Prosecutors have serious questions about the credibility of a hotel housekeeper who has accused former IMF managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault, and he was expected to have his strict bail conditions reduced yesterday, according to people familiar with the case.
Investigators have come to believe that the woman lied about some of her activities in the hours around the alleged attack and about her own background, a law enforcement official said on Thursday. The official is familiar with the case, but spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters not yet made public in court.
Prosecutors think she lied about details on her application for asylum in the US, including saying she had been raped in her native Guinea, the official said.
“She actually recounted the entire story to prosecutors and later said it was false,” the official said.
Prosecutors have not necessarily reached a new conclusion about the allegations against Strauss-Kahn and have not decided whether to downgrade the charges, the official said.
Another person familiar with the case, but not authorized to speak publicly about it, said earlier on Thursday that Strauss-Kahn may get his bail and house arrest arrangement eased at yesterday’s hearing.
In France, Strauss-Kahn’s allies are hoping that new doubts about the sexual assault case can help revive his French presidential bid next year.
Many in France welcomed the surprising news — not only those who want to see Socialist Strauss-Kahn replace conservative Nicolas Sarkozy as president, but also many who felt the US media and public had unfairly assumed he was guilty.
Strauss-Kahn, a prominent member of France’s Socialist Party, was considered a leading potential contender for next year’s presidential election in France before he was charged with attempted rape in May. He denies the allegations.
Sarkozy did not comment publicly yesterday about the new legal developments in New York. The deadline for declaring candidacy for the French presidency is July 13.
French Socialist politician Michele Sabban said her party should put its presidential primary calendar on hold if Strauss-Kahn is exonerated.
The chief of the Socialist Party, Martine Aubry, said the news brought her “immense joy.”
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