Ned admits to being perplexed by the alleged rape of a hotel worker by the head of the IMF. Ned will only say that he expects that the alleged perpetrator will be assumed innocent until proven guilty, but is already disturbed by some of the details of the "case", as fragmentary as they are. First, although the NYT has refused (quite rightly, in Ned's view) to release the name of the alleged victim, it knows her identity, because its minions have already conducted interviews of her neighbors and friends, and have reported that they consider her to be a nice, family-oriented, friendly person, initially prejudicing the case against the alleged perpetrator. The alleged perpetrator has been awarded no such consideration, as he has been paraded in chains before the press, denied bail, and the pictures spread all over the mediashpere. Secondly, Ned concludes that the circumstances of the case could be interpreted at this early stage to be consistent with a 'he said, she said' story, and he hopes not. Third, the alleged perpetrator has been apparently required to provide samples of his DNA, in apparent violation of his Fifth-Amendment rights. Finally, Ned is troubled by the entire situation: at 1.30 (PM?) the maid enters a room, finding a man naked who ran into the bedroom. Was she invited? Enticed? Why was she there? Why didn't the "guest" keep his door locked?
Reports are already coming in about a history of aggressive behavior towards women, behavior which might be tolerated in France but certainly not in an 'Anglo Saxon' situation.
Ned can only expect that justice will be done, and, if convicted, the assailant will be given the harshest punishment, but ruefully concludes that even if the alleged assailant is found innocent, his reputation is already in tatters.
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