The sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn was reportedly on the verge of collapse today after law enforcement officials claimed that the alleged victim may have received mysterious payments of up to $100,000 and repeatedly lied to police.
According to The New York Times, senior prosecutors approached Mr Strauss-Kahn yesterday to share their doubts about the credibility of a housekeeper who claimed that she was attacked by the head of the International Monetary Fund in a Manhattan hotel.
Mr Strauss-Kahn, who had been considered the favourite to win France’s next presidential election, could even be released from house arrest later today after his lawyers said they would demand an end to his extraordinarily tough bail conditions.
Last month the financier was pulled off a plane at JFK airport and charged with sexually assaulting a maid inside his New York hotel suite on May 14.
A forensic examination offered clear evidence of sexual contact, but law enforcement officials have reportedly claimed that the maid has regularly lied to investigators who suspect she may have links to drug-dealing, money-laundering and immigration offences.
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The Guinean woman told police that she only had one telephone but she is now believed to have been paying for five devices. Investigators have a recording of one conversation in which she allegedly discussed the potential benefits of pursuing charges against Mr Strauss-Kahn.
The man she was speaking to has been arrested on charges of possessing almost 200kg of marijuana. He was also one of the people who investigators say made multiple cash deposits, totalling over £60,000, into her bank account over the last two years.
New York prosecutors held a meeting with Mr Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers yesterday during which they reportedly discussed whether to dismiss the charges.
Prosecutors from the office of District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. apparently plan to tell the judge today that they “have problems with the case”.
An official told The New York Times: “It is a mess, a mess on both sides.”
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Supporters of Mr Strauss-Kahn in France took the latest revelations in New York as evidence that he had fallen victim to trumped-up charges and held out hope that he could still enter the French presidential race next year.
Summing up a widespread sentiment in Paris, Pierre Moscovici, one of his leading allies in the French Socialist Party, said: ‘This is incredible news and my reaction is one of hope that his innocence will be proved and his honour restored.’
Mr Moscovici refused to comment on speculation that Mr Strauss-Kahn could return home in triumph as a contender to succeed President Sarkozy, but others were not so cautious.
Jean-Louis Borloo, a former Environment Minister who is himself likely to stand for the presidency as a centrist candidate, said: ‘’What is to stop him coming back if he has the strength and the desire?’
Michele Sabban, one of Mr Strauss-Kahn’s most fervent Socialist supporters, said reports that his alleged victim had lied to investigators strengthened her belief that there had been a plot against him.
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She pointed out that the prosecution case began to wobble just two days after the appointment of Christine Lagarde, the French Finance Minister, to succeed him as managing director of the International Monetary Fund.
The timing meant that a ‘manipulation becomes plausible,’ she said.
Justice Michael J. Obus, presiding at the State Supreme Court, is expected to consider easing the strict bail conditions imposed on Mr Strauss-Kahn in the days after he was charged.
Benjamin Brafman and William W. Taylor III, Mr Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers, had already suggested that they had uncovered information that would “gravely undermine the credibility” of the maid.
Mrs Sabban called on her fellow Socialists to suspend their primary election campaign to enable Mr Strauss-Kahn – an overwhelming favourite to be chosen as the party’s candidate until his arrest – to enter the race.
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Contenders must in theory throw their hats into the ring by July 13 ahead of a vote in the autumn to select the candidate who will face Mr Sarkozy next Spring.
Commentators said the return of Mr Strauss-Kahn would turn the presidential election campaign on its head, throwing the Socialists into confusion and forcing Mr Sarkozy to rethink his electoral strategy.
Martine Aubry, the Socialist Party leader, had always said she would step aside in favour of Mr Strauss-Kahn if wanted to run.
But with him under house arrest in New York – and seemingly unable to run for president – she declared herself a candidate this week.
The question now is whether she would be prepared to stand down having already launched her campaign. This morning, she refused to be drawn on the question and instead expressed hope that charges against Mr Strauss-Kahn would soon be dropped.
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’I want to say that the news which arrived from New York tonight brought me an immense joy,’ she said.