Strauss-Kahn's lawyers threaten to 'undermine' maid's credibility

By Agence France-Presse
Thursday, May 26th, 2011 -- 7:32 pm

NEW YORK – Defense lawyers for Dominique Strauss-Kahn say they have information which could "gravely undermine" the credibility of the New York hotel maid accusing the former IMF chief of trying to rape her.

The threat appeared in a long letter from attorneys William Taylor and Benjamin Brafman to Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance in which they complained about what they said were "continual" leaks by police aimed at damaging their client's case.

Responding, the DA's office said in a letter Thursday it was "troubled" by the threat about damaging information on the maid and said: "We are aware of no such information."

According to Taylor and Brafman, "we could now release substantial information that in our view would seriously undermine the quality of this prosecution and also gravely undermine the credibility of the complainant in this case," the letter said.

No further information was given about the nature of the information, but the mention raised new tensions ahead of a June 6 court hearing when Strauss-Kahn is expected to plead not guilty to the sex assault charges.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/05/26/strauss-kahns-lawyers-threaten-to-undermine-maids-credibility/