His words followed testimony from two sex workers about his behavior at sex parties he’s accused of organizing or encouraging in Europe and the United States. He denies knowing that the women involved in the parties were prostitutes.
One, named only as Mounia R., told the court in the northern French city of Lille that Strauss-Kahn had “brutal” sexual relations with her and must have known she was being paid.
A second, named as Jade, told the court Wednesday that she had been subjected to an “unsolicited” sexual act by Strauss-Kahn — who’s commonly known in France by his initials, DSK — after going to a party at the Tantra sex club in Belgium.
“Through this trial, I am discovering that my sexuality is perhaps rougher than most men’s sexuality. If some women don’t like it, it’s their right. But my behavior is the same with all women,” Strauss-Kahn said.
Strauss-Kahn, who was married to French TV journalist Anne Sinclair until their divorce in 2013, has never denied that he took part in the parties.
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The prosecutor’s office in late 2013 asked for Strauss-Kahn’s case to be dismissed, citing lack of evidence. However, the investigating magistrates did not follow their recommendations.
The trial of Strauss-Kahn, who saw his stellar career plummet to earth after a separate sex scandal that resulted in his arrest in New York in 2011, opened in Lille just over a week ago. He was later cleared of the New York allegations.
Before that scandal erupted, he had been on track to run for the French presidency — an election his Socialist Party later won with Francois Hollande as its candidate.
CNN’s Sandrine Amiel reported from Lille and Laura Smith-Spark wrote from London.
