Ex-IMF chief pleads not guilty to sex assault

NEW YORK (AP) — Embattled former chief of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, charged with trying to rape a Manhattan hotel maid formally pleaded not guilty of the charges in his first court appearance today.



The French diplomat appeared in court for the first time since he was released on $6 million in cash bail and bond last month. He has been under house arrest that includes 24-hour monitors and armed guards, first in a downtown Manhattan apartment and now in a deluxe, $50,000-a-month Tribeca town house.



Strauss-Kahn's attorney Ben Brafman said "it will be clear that there was no element of forcible compulsion in this case whatsoever, any suggestion to the contrary is simply not credible."



Brafman's similar comments at an earlier court hearing have led to speculation that the defense will argue the encounter was consensual. He repeated again Monday that he and co-counsel William Taylor would not be commenting on the specifics of the case.



However, the maid's attorney, Kenneth Thompson, said she would testify in court and condemned speculation that she either made up the attack or exaggerated the claims.



The woman's attorneys said outside court that an attempt to smear her name would not be tolerated.



Strauss-Kahn was arraigned on charges of attempted rape, sex abuse, a criminal sex act, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching. The most serious charge carries a maximum term of five to 25 years in prison.