In DSK's Native France, Suspicions Surface Regarding Scandal's Manipulation From Sarkozy's Élysée Palace

Le Monde's Ariane Chemin travels to the Élysée to report on suspicions that President Nicolas Sarkozy's ruling UMP was somehow involved in eruption of the DSK scandal in a Sofitel hotel in America or at least has been less than forthcoming about the Élysée's reaction to the news. Indeed, at the same time that Dominique Strauss-Kahn was being taken off a New York City airport airplane, the head of Sofitel's hotel security (René-Georges Querry) was seen in Paris watching a football match with Nicolas Sarkozy (but also with Martine Aubry) from the presidential box.

Au Monde, "Jo" Querry assure qu'au Stade de France, "ni lui ni personne ne peut encore rien savoir".

As French VIPs learn of the events throughout (what in Europe is) the night, they treat the news with incredulity.

Nouveau coup de fil [du coordonnateur du renseignement à l'Elysée, Ange] Mancini à son copain d'Accor : "Jo, on est sceptiques... T'es sûr que c'est pas une blague ? C'est pas l'heure de rigoler."

And it is still unclear whether Nicolas Sarkozy was awakened in the middle of the night to be debriefed or whether, as the Élysée claims, it was decided to let him sleep and not tell him before the following morning.

"On ne réveille pas le président."