Where do you go to get your reputation back?

[Danno 1,228]

Strauss-Kahn Case Seen as in Jeopardy

The sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the verge of collapse as investigators have uncovered major holes in the credibility of the housekeeper who charged that he attacked her in his Manhattan hotel suite in May, according to two well-placed law enforcement officials.

Although forensic tests found unambiguous evidence of a sexual encounter between Mr. Strauss-Kahn, a French politician, and the woman, prosecutors do not believe much of what the accuser has told them about the circumstances or about herself.

Since her initial allegation on May 14, the accuser has repeatedly lied, one of the law enforcement officials said.

Senior prosecutors met with lawyers for Mr. Strauss-Kahn on Thursday and provided details about their findings, and the parties are discussing whether to dismiss the felony charges. Among the discoveries, one of the officials said, are issues involving the asylum application of the 32-year-old housekeeper, who is Guinean, and possible links to criminal activities, including drug dealing and money laundering.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers will return to State Supreme Court in Manhattan on Friday morning, when Justice Michael J. Obus is expected to consider easing the extraordinary bail conditions that he imposed on Mr. Strauss-Kahn in the days after he was charged.

Indeed, Mr. Strauss-Kahn could be released on his own recognizance, and freed from house arrest, reflecting the likelihood that the serious charges against him will not be sustained. The district attorney’s office may try to require Mr. Strauss-Kahn to plead guilty to a misdemeanor, but his lawyers are likely to contest such a move.

The revelations are a stunning change of fortune for Mr. Strauss-Kahn, 62, who was considered a strong contender for the French presidency before being accused of sexually assaulting the woman who went to clean his luxury suite at the Sofitel New York.

Prosecutors from the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., who initially were emphatic about the strength of the case and the account of the victim, plan to tell the judge on Friday that they “have problems with the case” based on what their investigators have discovered, and will disclose more of their findings to the defense. The woman still maintains that she was attacked, the officials said.

“It is a mess, a mess on both sides,” one official said.

According to the two officials, the woman had a phone conversation with an incarcerated man within a day of her encounter with Mr. Strauss-Kahn in which she discussed the possible benefits of pursuing the charges against him. The conversation was recorded.

That man, the investigators learned, had been arrested on charges of possessing 400 pounds of marijuana. He is among a number of individuals who made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman’s bank account over the last two years. The deposits were made in Arizona, Georgia, New York and Pennsylvania.

The investigators also learned that she was paying hundreds of dollars every month in phone charges to five companies. The woman had insisted she had only one phone and said she knew nothing about the deposits except that they were made by a man she described as her fiancé and his friends.

In addition, one of the officials said, she told investigators that her application for asylum included mention of a previous rape, but there was no such account in the application. She also told them that she had been subjected to genital mutilation, but her account to the investigators differed from what was contained in the asylum application.

A lawyer for the woman, Kenneth Thompson, could not be immediately reached for comment on Thursday evening.

In recent weeks, Mr. Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers, Benjamin Brafman and William W. Taylor III, have made it clear that they would make the credibility of the woman a focus of their case. In a May 25 letter, they said they had uncovered information that would “gravely undermine the credibility” of the accuser.

<SNIP>

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/nyregion/strauss-kahn-case-seen-as-in-jeopardy.html?hp

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Maybe Jesse jackson would help out. Didn't he do a lot of work to get back the good name of the Lacrosse players in ...NM

[scandal 951]

If he's freed and exonerated and able to return to France, he will get his life back and quite likely a shot at his goal of the French presidency. He'll probably even gain a certain amount of sympathy vote as a result of his ordeal.

[Darnell 8,479]

Malaysia, make some quick money on the bourse,

then move to Singapura, make some more money,

maybe by then can afford the attornies needeed to spin back.

maybe.

oh - but if you mean for her - sheesh - she can move to Indonesia, hide for a few years as a hotel worker - no one will notice her.

Edited July 1, 2011 by Darnell

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Unfortunately, Marc doesn't know better than that.

[_Simpson_ 250]

If he's freed and exonerated and able to return to France, he will get his life back and quite likely a shot at his goal of the French presidency. He'll probably even gain a certain amount of sympathy vote as a result of his ordeal.

I doubt it. I don't think he will have a chance at winning the election. Considering what he was supposed to stand for and in light of what came out, false accusations aside, I would have to say that he is finished.

[Zero Sum 305]

I doubt it. I don't think he will have a chance at winning the election. Considering what he was supposed to stand for and in light of what came out, false accusations aside, I would have to say that he is finished.

Agreed, I think. He does have a reputation that goes far beyond the promiscuity associated with so many other French people.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Personal attack removed

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Although forensic tests found unambiguous evidence of a sexual encounter between Mr. Strauss-Kahn, a French politician, and the woman, prosecutors do not believe much of what the accuser has told them about the circumstances or about herself.

Since her initial allegation on May 14, the accuser has repeatedly lied, one of the law enforcement officials said.

Wow, so an actual case of "rape" as opposed to rape?

[scandal 951]

I doubt it. I don't think he will have a chance at winning the election. Considering what he was supposed to stand for and in light of what came out, false accusations aside, I would have to say that he is finished.

The punditry seems to agree with me, and not you. See article below. Keep in mind that he's appealing to French voters, not Americans. The French typically don't give 2 hoots about the sexual affairs of their hoity-poloity, unlike Americans who see political catastrophes in every Twitter post. If DSK did not commit a crime and all he did was have consensual sex with a woman not his wife, I definitely see him as a leading contender to replace Sarkozy. He remains popular there and continues to have the support of the Socialist Party.

France abuzz with talk of comeback for Dominique Strauss-Kahn

News that the sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn was teetering electrified French political circles, with his allies talking of him making a swift political comeback and possibly playing a role in next year's presidential elections.

By Kim Willsher, Los Angeles Times

July 1, 2011, 12:03 p.m.

Reporting from Paris—

The news that the sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn was teetering took French political circles by storm Friday, with some political allies talking of him making a swift political comeback.

Strauss, released on his own recognizance but still facing charges, had been widely seen as a leading Socialist Party presidential candidate in next year's elections until the allegations that he had assaulted a Manhattan hotel maid forced him to resign as chief of the International Monetary Fund.

Socialist member of Parliament Jean-Marie Le Guen said it was "the end of the nightmare" for Strauss-Kahn and predicted that he would now "be present in the presidential campaign."

Martine Aubry, head of the French Socialist party, spoke of her "immense joy" following reports that the case against him was falling apart.

"I hope American justice will establish the whole truth and save Dominique from this nightmare," she told journalists.

On Tuesday the Socialist party began the run-up to primaries in October to decide on a candidate for May's presidential election. Aubry, who had previously agreed not to run in a secret pact with Strauss-Kahn to allow him to run, had announced her candidacy.

Another Socialist minister, Michèle Sabban, called on the party to delay the primary process.

"If Dominique Strauss-Kahn is cleared, I ask the Socialist party to suspend the primary process," she told journalists on Friday.

Former Socialist Culture Minister Jack Lang, who had been criticized for his unwavering support of Strauss-Kahn, said he was "happy" because his belief in the notion of "innocent until proven guilty" had been confirmed.

"He could still play a major role in France, without being a candidate. This would give [us] an extra chance for victory," Lang said.

Philippe Goulliaud of Le Figaro newspaper said the Socialist Party was now in a difficult position.

"Already DSK supporters had turned the page and decided things had been settled. Now the Strauss-Kahnians are saying his return is possible," he said.

"It is difficult to know if it's possible or to know what DSK wants. Having seen images of this man tied and handcuffed he might be like the Count of Monte Cristo and want to have revenge on those who have sullied his name."

Personal attack removed

What's the point of that? Honestly?

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What's the point of that? Honestly?

The mods just can't win

I reported that. I am sure others did as well. It was a clear violation of TOS (yes, I know that's rich coming from me).

[Zero Sum 305]

Its all about personal responsibility; if he lost it, he deserved to lose it.

Or you can prevent it from loss by using those reputationdefender services.

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Its all about personal responsibility; if he lost it, he deserved to lose it.

He put himself in the same hotel room with a woman he didn't know. He wasn't careful so now he's been ensnared by these rape allegations. He deserves it.

[Nina~ 431]

He put himself in the same hotel room with a woman he didn't know. He wasn't careful so now he's been ensnared by these rape allegations. He deserves it.

You forgot to put rape in quotes

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You forgot to put rape in quotes