French prosecutors have widened an investigation into former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn's alleged participation in a prostitution ring.
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Authorities said Monday that Lille police will open a preliminary inquiry into acts that allegedly took place in Washington, which they believe could constitute gang rape.
"Following the decision by the examining magistrates, who are in charge of the affair known as the 'Carlton affair,' they have reason to believe ... pertaining to events which allegedly took place in Washington between December 15 and 18, 2010, that there is suspicion of gang rape," a statement from the Lille prosecutor's office said.
CNN was waiting to hear back from Strauss-Kahn's lawyers Monday morning.
The French newspaper Liberation reported earlier this month that the allegations stemmed from statements made by two women it describes as "escort girls," who were interviewed by Belgian police as part of an investigation into a prostitution ring run out of the Carlton Hotel in Lille, near France's border with Belgium.
According to the newspaper's account of the depositions, the women said they had accompanied two associates of Strauss-Kahn on a visit to Washington, where they had stayed at the W Hotel.
One of them alleged that Strauss-Kahn had used force against her during a sexual encounter at the hotel, despite her protests.
The newspaper did not specify how it obtained the statements. CNN could not independently confirm the report.
The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington said no sexual assault at the hotel was reported at that time.
Strauss-Kahn's lawyers in Lille and New York both declined to comment on the Liberation report when reached by CNN.
Source: CNN Wire
