Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said Tuesday that Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund, was not in a position to run the agency.
“Of course, I can’t comment on the case, but he’s obviously not in the position to run the IMF, and I think it’s important that the board of the IMF formally put in place for a period somebody to act as managing director,” Geithner said in remarks at the Harvard Club in New York City.
“They have in John Lipsky — it’s not the Constitutional order of succession but it is the legal order of succession, and he is a very capable person, a lot of experience, so I think that’s the appropriate step to take,” Geithner added, referring to the former J.P. Morgan executive and No. 2 at the IMF who is currently serving as acting managing director in Strauss-Kahn’s absence.
Strauss-Kahn has been remanded in custody at New York’s Rikers Island jail after his arrest Saturday for allegedly trying to rape a Manhattan hotel maid.
He faces seven charges including committing a criminal sex act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment and is due back in court Friday, having been denied bail because he is deemed a potential flight risk.
The 62-year-old Frenchman denies the charges.
