Monday, Nov. 03, 2008

Max Mosley's sex romp

News of the World, a British tabloid, released video of Mosley, the head of European grand prix motor racing, engaged in sado-masochistic sex acts with five prostitutes. Beyond the libertinism of the video, the paper's suggestion that the role-playing had Nazi undertones led to demands for Mosley's resignation as president of the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the organization that oversees Formula One racing. Mosley, whose father was a fascist politician, admitted "the embarrassment the revelations caused," but said that there was no Nazi theme. In July, the 68-year-old won a lawsuit against the tabloid for invasion of privacy. "I see no genuine basis at all for the suggestion that the participants mocked the victims of the Holocaust," the judge said, adding that the "bondage, beating and domination" that did take place was "typical of S&M behavior." Mosley's term as FIA president expires in October 2009.