US News

Let’s make ‘lug’

That’s why the lady is a . . . valise?

Dominique Strauss-Kahn referred to the young beauties he teamed up at wild sex parties as “luggage,” “gifts” and “equipment” in text messages that may be used to prosecute him for involvement in a prostitution ring.

The former International Monetary Fund chief, known as DSK, sent the texts to friends when planning orgies, the French daily Le Monde reported yesterday,

“Do you want to (can you?) come to a great sexy nightclub in Madrid with me (and some equipment) on July 4?” he wrote to a businessman friend who also was charged.

The 62-year-old, married DSK admitted to French police probing the hooker ring that his use of the terms was “not very sophisticated” — but he said it was quicker than listing out all the women’s names.

The texts are expected to be key evidence in a potential prosecution of DSK as a major figure in the ring, which was based in northern France and allegedly sent call girls to link up with Strauss-Kahn and friends in Lille, Paris and Washington.

At least five prostitutes have told investigators they had sex with DSK.

His lawyers said Tuesday he was just a “simple swinger” who is being prosecuted for “the crime of lust.”

A photo of DSK with a woman, described as a call girl named Jade, surfaced yesterday. The photo showed the pair, both fully dressed, in an undisclosed office, the British newspaper the Sun said.

She is believed to be the same Jade, 29, who told investigators DSK invited her to his IMF office for a sex party while she was visiting the US. “I found him charming and polite,” she was quoted as saying. “He was treated like the messiah at orgies we went to.”

Meanwhile, DSK’s bid to avoid being sued by the New York maid accusing him of rape fell flat in The Bronx yesterday.

State Supreme Court Justice Douglas McKeon repeatedly interrupted Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers when they tried to block Nafissatou Diallo’s lawsuit on the grounds that he is protected by diplomatic immunity.

DSK lawyer Amit Mehta said his client was shielded by a 1947 UN agreement that protects senior officials of agencies like the International Monetary Fund.

But McKeon vigorously questioned Mehta, pointing out that DSK didn’t raise the immunity issue when he was being charged by Manhattan prosecutors last year, after Diallo said he attacked her at the Sofitel hotel.

Outside court, Diallo lawyer Ken Thompson said, “DSK thinks he’s above the law. His claim of immunity is completely baseless.”