So about the Strauss khan Case.....

[Raj Ahten]

It's falling apart. Basically the prosecution found out the Maid making the complaint in the case has connections with a criminal sitting in a cell on Riker's Island and suspicious bank transactions of around $100,000 over two years. Sucks for her if the charges against SK are true, because unless you are a moral paragon, your word is apparently worthless (Unless you were a mobster and you’re testifying against your boss).

NEW YORK — New York prosecutors have agreed to release former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn without bail on Friday after raising major problems with his accuser's credibility.

If the judge agrees, Strauss-Kahn would be freed "on his own recognizance," meaning he would have his $1 million bail and $5 million bond returned, according to Bloomberg, citing two sources familiar with the case.

The former head of the International Monetary Fund has been free on $1 million bail under house arrest since May. Releasing him without bail signals that the accusations of sexual assault may be less serious than thought.

The case against Strauss-Kahn neared collapse after investigators raised serious questions about the credibility of his accuser, who is a New York hotel maid. They believe the woman lied about some of her activities in the hours around the alleged attack and about her own background, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official is familiar with the case but spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters not yet made public in court.

Strauss-Kahn, 62, was a steward of the world economy and a leading candidate for the French presidency, when he was arrested on May 14 and charged with attempting to rape a woman in a $3,000-a-night hotel suite in New York.

Prosecutors think she lied about details on her application for asylum in the U.S., including saying she had been raped in her native Guinea, the official told the AP.

Story: Officials say Strauss-Kahn case seen as in jeopardy
A source familiar with the case told NBC News that investigators have uncovered past incidents where the accuser was untruthful. On her asylum application, "she lied extensively, including information about a claim of having been raped," the source said.

When asked by prosecutors about the past rape claim, she recounted the story "in a believable way," the source told NBC News. When questioned again, she admitted to those prosecutors that "she lied to them ... and on the application about the whole rape claim."

The New York Times quoted what it said were two well-placed law enforcement officials as saying prosecutors had discovered possible links between the accuser and criminal activities, including drug dealing and money laundering.

The newspaper added that prosecutors had discovered that the woman had had a phone conversation with an incarcerated man within a day of her encounter with Strauss-Kahn in which she discussed the possible benefits of pursuing the charges against him. The conversation was recorded.

It added that the man was among a number of individuals who had made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman's bank account over the last two years.

[K. A. Pital]

The newspaper added that prosecutors had discovered that the woman had had a phone conversation with an incarcerated man within a day of her encounter with Strauss-Kahn in which she discussed the possible benefits of pursuing the charges against him. The conversation was recorded. It added that the man was among a number of individuals who had made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman's bank account over the last two years.

If this is true, it doesn't "suck for her", but it sucks balls for DSK because he lost his position due to some criminal schemers who wanted to get money out of him.

[Zed]

He might still get to be President of France though.

[Stofsk]

My mum recently went to France for three weeks and the whole DSK thing is thought to be a set-up by a lot of the people she interacted with. I was pretty sceptical of that, although it appears I may have been wrong.

[Molyneux]

The newspaper added that prosecutors had discovered that the woman had had a phone conversation with an incarcerated man within a day of her encounter with Strauss-Kahn in which she discussed the possible benefits of pursuing the charges against him. The conversation was recorded. It added that the man was among a number of individuals who had made multiple cash deposits, totaling around $100,000, into the woman's bank account over the last two years.

If this is true, it doesn't "suck for her", but it sucks balls for DSK because he lost his position due to some criminal schemers who wanted to get money out of him.

I wonder if there's any kind of grounds for a wrongful termination suit, or something...can you even do that?

[Raj Ahten]

He might still get to be President of France though.

That would be an amazing turn of events. Even if the charges are dismissed completely his reputation would have certainly taken a hit as his defense has always been that the encounter was consensual. That sort of behavior just plays into offensive French stereotypes. I know personal matters don't hold as much weight in French politics, but you'd have to figure there would be some impact. The question is would France elect a man whose had his dirty laundry shown to the world to represent the nation on the world stage?

[TheHammer]

He might still get to be President of France though.

That would be an amazing turn of events. Even if the charges are dismissed completely his reputation would have certainly taken a hit as his defense has always been that the encounter was consensual. That sort of behavior just plays into offensive French stereotypes. I know personal matters don't hold as much weight in French politics, but you'd have to figure there would be some impact. The question is would France elect a man whose had his dirty laundry shown to the world to represent the nation on the world stage?

If he plays "vindicated wrongfully accussed man" card correctly it might actually help his chances. Everyone who doubted him would feel guilty for having done so, and his supporters would be more inclined than ever to push for his election.

[Sea Skimmer]

Lets keep in mind that the physical evidence of the encounter is not in question at all. I know the French don't really care about married men in power fucking anything that crosses them, but its a pretty dumb idea.

[Rogue 9]

I wonder if there's any kind of grounds for a wrongful termination suit, or something...can you even do that?

I seem to recall he resigned, so no.

[Big Phil]

I can't believe all of you are BLAMING THE VICTIM!!!

Actually, this is very typical of a rape case against a powerful defendant. The physical evidence is there to support rape, so instead they attack her credibility.

[JME2]

My sister's is not taking this news well. She's been denouncing the court system and DSK all morning via the phone and the internet.

[Big Phil]

As well she should; these "shocking revelations" don't really undermine her case. The news that the victim might be an illegal alien isn't really news, and the idea that because she lied on official documents amount her immigration status means she's lying about being raped is, frankly, offensive. Either he raped her, or it was consensual; the prosecutor's office clearly thought they had enough evidence (physical and victim's testimony) to arrest Frenchy, so this circus sideshow is more than likely not a major issue.

[Rogue 9]

I can't believe all of you are BLAMING THE VICTIM!!!

Kindly point out where anyone has blamed the victim. The question is whether or not there is a victim. I pass no judgment either way, but no one has said she was raped and it was her fault.

[Flagg]

Of course they undermine her case. She's a proven liar. If you lie about one thing, you'll lie about another is a perfectly reasonable assumption for a jury to make. This isn't about attacking the victim it's about the "victim" being a liar whose testimony can be impeached by the defense and the prosecution realizing their case just fell to shit because of it. I'm not even going to get into the other shit being alleged against her.

[Sriad]

I can't believe all of you are BLAMING THE VICTIM!!!

Actually, this is very typical of a rape case against a powerful defendant. The physical evidence is there to support rape, so instead they attack her credibility.

Man... FUCK THAT.

It's a steaming heap of misandrist bullshit that you can't suggest an alleged rapist might be innocent without "blaming the victim" being reflexively thrown in your face.

Julian Assange... bounced in and out of court on charges of sexual assault, then formally indited after Wiki-leaking tens of thousands of diplomatic cables, prompting international calls for his ASSASSINATION... Could it be that he's innocent of everything except sleeping around? Nope, that would mean two women were lying, and that would be blaming the victim.

Could it be that DSK is innocent of everything except being a victim himself? Nope, that would be blaming the perjured money launderer victim.

I get that victims of rape need support. I hope that other people also get that people are falsely (or inaccurately) accused of rape, and that suggesting this might be the case is WORLDS AWAY from "she was asking for it" or "if she didn't want it she wouldn't have been dressed like that/out alone/drinking at a party"... you know, things people use to try to discredit rape allegations by actually "blaming the victim".

Sorry if I sound a little hysterical (hah!), but this is a pet peeve of mine. Can I also point out that it's pretty disempowering to call them "victims" all the time? I know there are better terms out there, but I'm not remembering well.

[Stark]

Aside from money (which could just mean she worked as a drug mule in the hotel or something), does the phonecall really mean anything? If she was raped and called her pal in organised crime about making money out of it, that doesn't change the fact of her rape. People burn themselves on Macdonalds coffee and call someone to discuss the benefits of pursuing it, and nobody thinks that's odd.

[Flagg]

Aside from money (which could just mean she worked as a drug mule in the hotel or something), does the phonecall really mean anything? If she was raped and called her pal in organised crime about making money out of it, that doesn't change the fact of her rape. People burn themselves on Macdonalds coffee and call someone to discuss the benefits of pursuing it, and nobody thinks that's odd.

Yeah, that part doesn't really shout out "lying" to me so much because in our culture alot of people think that if something bad happens to us they should expect a payday of some sort to balance it out. Especially scumbags like her. Not that if she were raped she shouldn't sue the everloving fuck out of this guy.

But it's clear that this woman is a lying POS, so her testimony just can't be trusted. It doesn't mean she wasn't raped by the guy, it just means he's much much harder to prosecute since it's a he said she said situation.

[Block]

Aside from money (which could just mean she worked as a drug mule in the hotel or something), does the phonecall really mean anything? If she was raped and called her pal in organised crime about making money out of it, that doesn't change the fact of her rape. People burn themselves on Macdonalds coffee and call someone to discuss the benefits of pursuing it, and nobody thinks that's odd.

I think it depends on what was actually said in the phone call, if she said something like "I was raped how can I make money off this?" it's sleazy as hell but still a crime was committed against her. If it was more like, "I just had sex with this guy, how can I profit?" then yeah this should be thrown out immediately.

[Stark]

That's very true, the media summary of 'called this guy and mentioned this thing' isn't very meaningful beyond attacking her credibility.

As an aside, are calls to prisons routinely recorded? Shouldn't criminals know this?

[Flagg]

That's very true, the media summary of 'called this guy and mentioned this thing' isn't very meaningful beyond attacking her credibility.

As an aside, are calls to prisons routinely recorded? Shouldn't criminals know this?

Yes and yes. But if criminals weren't generally dumbasses we'd have alot more prison space.

[Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba]

Even if the maid is lying, her accusation has allowed numerous other women that DSK has raped to come forward when they couldn't before. That's a plus in my books.

[Hamstray]

A lot of people don't get the idea of presumption of innocence and don't have the capacity to comprehend the fact that it is valid for both parties. They somehow get the idea that acquittance of one party must invariably mean the guilt of the other. This makes broadly publicized rape cases usually into a lose-lose situation, much to the detriment of actual rape victims.

[Executor32]

What no one seems to have mentioned yet is this:

When asked by prosecutors about the past rape claim, she recounted the story "in a believable way," the source told NBC News. When questioned again, she admitted to those prosecutors that "she lied to them ... and on the application about the whole rape claim."

She has lied about being raped before. That is what puts her credibility into question in this case, not just that she has a history of lying.

Also, regarding the hot coffee incident, McDonald's actually was at fault in that case. I swear, everyone and their mother brings it up as an example of a frivolous lawsuit, but nobody ever bothers to Google it and learn the details of the case.

[General Mung Beans]

Even if the maid is lying, her accusation has allowed numerous other women that DSK has raped to come forward when they couldn't before. That's a plus in my books.

That could be just jumping on the bandwagon for all we know.

[Nieztchean Uber-Amoeba]

Even if the maid is lying, her accusation has allowed numerous other women that DSK has raped to come forward when they couldn't before. That's a plus in my books.

That could be just jumping on the bandwagon for all we know.

Take a moment to think about what you just said.