IMF chief has 'forfeited our confidence,' should resign, Sen. Kirk says

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) on Wednesday called for the resignation of embattled International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn. 

"The criminal allegations against Mr. Strauss-Kahn are alarming and undermine confidence in the institution at a critical juncture in our economic history," Kirk said from the Senate floor. "Mr. Strauss-Kahn has forfeited our confidence and should resign or be fired from his position at the IMF."

Strauss-Kahn, a Frenchman, is being held at Rikers Island jail complex in New York, facing accusations of sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a hotel maid. Since his arrest, the IMF's global operations have been thrown into turmoil.

In a tweet Wednesday evening Kirk said that French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde should replace Strauss-Kahn. 

"Sarkozsy's conservative Financial Minister, Christine Lagarde, should replace Strauss at the IMF," Kirk tweeted.

New York police arrested Strauss-Kahn on a plane at JFK International Airport Saturday afternoon before it departed for France. He is being held without bail.

In the meantime, Kirk said the IMF's second-in-command, John Lipsky, should assume full responsibility for the organization. He said a process for determining a replacement for Strauss-Kahn should be put into place as quickly as possible.

Strauss-Kahn's arrest appears to have ended his chances at becoming president of France. Before his arrest, Strauss-Kahn was the leading liberal presidential candidate with hopes of unseating French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Watch the video of Kirk here.

The post was updated at 9:00 p.m.

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