 The episode was inspired by the Dominique Strauss @-@ Kahn arrest . Strauss @-@ Kahn , who was head of the International Monetary Fund ( IMF ) and considered the front @-@ runner in the French presidential election , was accused of sexually assaulting a maid at a midtown Manhattan hotel in May 2011 . He pleaded not guilty to all charges , but quit his IMF post , and his presidential candidacy was sidetracked . Subsequently , the case against him weakened as prosecutors said his accuser admitted to lying to a grand jury about events surrounding the attack . Franco Nero portrays a Strauss @-@ Kahn like character , Roberto DiStasio , but he is an Italian dignitary . Ron Rifkin plays DiStasio 's defense attorney , who is similar to Strauss @-@ Kahn 's real life attorney , Benjamin Brafman . 
