Marketplace Off Air

Strauss-Kahn apologizes to IMF for scandal

Melissa Kaplan Oct 22, 2008

An investigation has begun into IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s alleged affair with a coworker. The New York Times reports Strauss-Kahn issued an apology to his staff and the woman in question, economist Piroska Nagy. The investigation comes at a time when the IMF’s worldwide obligations are increasing — including a bailout of Iceland. Strauss-Kahn’s legal team is working to resolve the issue by the end of the month.

In a statement issued by Strauss-Kahn, the former French finance minister said: “I have cooperated and am continuing to cooperate with outside counsel to the Fund concerning this matter . . . at no time did I abuse my position as the Fund’s managing director.” His wife, popular French TV personality Anne Sinclair, noted in her personal blog that she was already over her husband’s “one-night stand.”

The scandal may be undermining the IMF’s credibility, but doesn’t seem to have swayed borrowers from continuing business with the Fund.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.