The
New York Post
is under fire for reporting that former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn "may have more to worry about than a possible prison sentence" because the woman who has accused him of rape lives in housing for people with HIV.
In a
story
published Wednesday, before the embattled French politician resigned from the IMF, the
Post
reported that the Sofitel maid who said he sexually assaulted on Saturday "lives in a Bronx apartment rented exclusively for adults with HIV or AIDS." The article noted the West African immigrant accused Strauss-Kahn of forcing her to perform oral sex on him, and suggested that, "It is possible for either partner to become infected with HIV through performing or receiving oral sex."
Housing Works, the AIDS services provider, issued a
statement
calling on New Yorkers to condemn the revelation, which the woman's attorney later denied on
The Today Show
.
"The Post's reckless disregard for the sexual assault survivor's confidentiality potentially jeopardizes her relationships with friends, family, and coworkers, and further victimizes a woman who may have already suffered a grievous attack," said Housing Works. "The tabloid headline of the story, as well as its glib, vulgar lead sentence are a transparent attempt to fan the flames of AIDSphobia."
