Unanswerable Questions

The video above is short. It opens with Anne Sinclair looking resplendent, interviewing a young Jacques Chirac. She meets DSK, falls in love and abandons her career. She follows him everywhere and supports him. In Sarcelles, where he is elected mayor, and later when he resigns from Lionel Jospin's government following a financial scandal, then on the campaign trail in 2006, though he lost the nomination to Ségolène Royal, and in New York where she rushed to his aid, saying she never doubted his word.

Hunting for information about Anne Sinclair that would indicate whether or not she has, in the past, paid women to keep silent has borne little fruit, but there are a few hints that she would not only pay a woman to keep silent, but sully her reputation as well. Here is a long, well-written article from an African woman named Nomboniso Gasa, in the Sunday Independent. I know nothing about the writer, but I found the article credible. Here are a few excerpts. (Note that some of this information has been discussed at GalliaWatch before, especially the motivations of long-suffering wives):

DSK has been linked to a slew of sexual indiscretions and scandals. But Sinclair has stood by him.

Hers has not been the silent support of a loyal wife. She has fought hard to have him cleared of all charges, insinuations and allegations, including allegations of financial misconduct when DSK was Minister of Finance.

Her family wealth and connections have often afforded her effective interventions.

(…)

Sinclair’s strategy has always been to support her man but, simultaneously, to undermine the women implicated (whether by choice or not).

As far back as 2006 when she was on the campaign trail and DSK’s sexual frolics surfaced, Sinclair’s words were deliberately selected.

She said she was “rather proud of his reputation”, and added: “It is important for a politician to be able to seduce.”

(…)

In 2008 DSK faced yet another scandal of sexual liaison with a junior colleague who hastily resigned, and who was paid handsomely by the IMF following her resignation.

In a statement released at the time, Sinclair’s signature style was apparent. She reminded the public that the IMF started an internal enquiry and they hoped the matter would be finalised within a reasonable time.

Then came the punch “… that one night stand matter is well behind us now, we have moved on…” and, as an apparent afterthought she declared, “May I add that we love each other very much now, like the first time…”

I would add to all of this that Anne Sinclair dreamt of being First Lady of France. It remains to be seen if she can somehow buy her way out of her current troubles, unless she has already done so. That the chambermaid in New York lied is not debatable at this point. But she may not have lied about everything. If she suddenly began admitting to have lied, it is possible there was a monetary impetus. But it is equally possible that the maid's tall tale fell apart on its own without intervention from Madame. Will we ever know?