USA: Former IMF chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, arrives in court as news spreads that charges against him could collapse

Record ID: 559577

  • Title: USA: Former IMF chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, arrives in court as news spreads that charges against him could collapse
  • Date: 2nd July 2011
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 1, 2011) (REUTERS) FORMER IMF CHIEF, DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN AND HIS WIFE, GETTING OUT OF CAR AND WALKING UP STAIRS TO ENTRANCE OF COURTHOUSE A SECOND CAMERA ANGLE SHOWING STRAUSS-KAHN AND HIS WIFE GETTING OUT OF CAR AND WALKING UP STAIRS TO ENTRANCE OF COURTHOUSE
  • Embargoed: 17th July 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA42TZYHJZG0EW5MFLPVNSUSRHE
  • Story Text: Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn arrived at court on Friday (July 1) shortly before a hearing to seek changes to his bail conditions was to begin at 11:30 a.m. (1530 GMT).
    The sexual assault case against him was close to collapse, sources close to the case said, in a dramatic turnabout that could upend French politics again.
    Strauss-Kahn, 62, was a steward of the world economy and a leading candidate for next year's French presidential election until he was arrested on May 14 and charged with the attempted rape and sexual abuse of a hotel maid in New York.
    His wife, Anne Sinclair, was at his side when he left the house on Friday morning where he was being held under house arrest. The New York Times reported that prosecutors met with Strauss-Kahn's lawyers on Thursday (June 30) and the parties were discussing whether to dismiss the felony charges.
    It said Strauss-Kahn could be released without bail. A source familiar with the probe told Reuters prosecutors now doubted the maid's credibility as a witness.
    The arrest forced his resignation from the International Monetary Fund and appeared to end his presidential hopes, weeks before he had planned to declare his candidacy.
    Strauss-Kahn's supporters in the French Socialist party voiced delight at the apparent reversal and some said they hoped he might re-enter the 2012 presidential race.
    But political analysts said his reputation had been too tarnished for him to be a presidential contender, although he could play an influential political role if cleared.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register