French HuffPost job for Sinclair
Former TV journalist and wife of DSK Anne Sinclair, has been picked to launch a French version of the Huffington Post
ANNE Sinclair, latterly best-known as the wife who stood by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, is to edit a French version of the Huffington Post.
The American founder of the popular online newspaper, Arianna Huffington, has picked Ms Sinclair as editorial director of the website, which is set to launch on Monday. The US version is visited each month by 36 million people.
The “HuffPost” is liberal in tone and is known for the huge range of its contributors.
Ms Sinclair, 63, a French-American heiress and former TV journalist known for hosting current affairs shows, had left work to support her husband’s career in politics and economics. Last year, however, she was embroiled in the scandal when her husband had to stand down as head of the International Monetary Fund and face accusations that he raped a chamber maid in a New York hotel.
Stating that she did not believe the accusations “for a second”, she received both brickbats and bouquets from commentators for standing by the former IMF boss, who admitted an “inappropriate” sexual encounter, which he said was consensual.
The prosecution dropped the case after concerns arose over the reliability of the accuser. DSK then returned to France to face new accusations that he tried to rape an interviewer in 2003, a case which was also shelved after it was decided there was evidence only of possible assault, not rape, and the time limit for such a case was passed.
Ms Sinclair said in an interview with Elle magazine that she now wants to put the episode behind her and make a new name for herself in news. “I believe I’ve still got plenty to give to this job,” she said.
Ms Sinclair, who was voted 2011’s “woman of the year” in a CSA survey for Terrafemina, added: “I am neither a saint, nor a victim; I am a free woman.”
