DSK Released from House Arrest, New Details on the Maid's Lies
Dominique Strauss-Kahn is now free to move about the country. Prosecutors will retain his passport, but the bail conditions that kept him restricted to a Manhattan townhouse have been lifted, and his $1 million bail has been returned, the New York Times reports. The stunning reversal comes after prosecutors revealed their case was not as solid as they once thought. They said the woman who has accused the former IMF head of rape admitted lying about her application for asylum and on her taxes. More relevant to the case, she admitted lying about the events of the alleged assault: It turns out that after Strauss-Kahn left, she cleaned a nearby room, then returned to Strauss-Kahn's and cleaned it, and only then called her supervisor to report the assault. Strauss-Kahn and his team seemed pleased with the ruling, issuing a statement commending the judge for heeding their doubts about the accuracy of the woman's statements. The accuser's lawyer said that just because there were “mistakes” in her immigration forms “does not mean she is not a rape victim."
The Accuser's Credibility Implodes
Investigators looking into the housekeeper who accused Strauss-Kahn of attempted rape say that the victim’s story has some major holes—and the case against the former IMF chief could soon collapse, according to a report by The New York Times. DNA evidence reportedly confirms some sort of sexual encounter between the two, but prosecutors say the woman has since lied repeatedly.
Among the accuser’s alleged mistruths:
- A recorded conversation reportedly reveals her talking to an incarcerated man within a day of accusing Strauss-Kahn of attacking her. The two discussed possible positive side effects of charges against the former IMF chief.
- The man on the phone—along with others—allegedly deposited around $100,000 into the hotel maid’s bank account over the last two years.
- Strauss-Kahn’s accuser apparently has phones with five different companies; she told law enforcement officials that she only had one.
Prosecutors met with Strauss-Kahn’s team on Thursday to discuss dropping felony charges. Both teams of lawyers are due in court in Manhattan on Friday morning, where it’s possible that Strauss-Kahn could immediately be freed from house arrest.