Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. had decided to codename his investigation of former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, he might have called it “Operation Rock and a Hard Place.”
Eleven weeks ago, with Strauss-Kahn headed to a country that didn’t extradite, Vance had to decide whether to charge the French presidential hopeful with sexually attacking a hotel maid, based on his assessment of a credible claim. Six weeks after he said the maid admitted telling lies about her background and the aftermath of the alleged attack, Vance is grappling with whether to drop the charges even though there’s evidence of a crime.
Lawyers for Strauss-Kahn and the maid are demanding that Vance make opposite decisions. Without indicating any doubts about pursuing the case, Vance has said he’s sticking to the principle he laid down on July 1, when prosecutors told the judge in charge of the case that the maid, Nafissatou Diallo, had lied and had other “credibility issues.”
“As prosecutors, our duty is to do what is right in every case, without fear or favor wherever that leads,” Vance said after the court hearing. “Our judicial system seeks to ensure fairness and justice for both victims and defendants.
group of Africans and African-Americans who stood with her said they are sending a message to Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance. They want the case against Strauss-Kahn to move forward.
They say if charges are dropped, Vance will pay come election time.
"I think and hope he is intelligent enough to understand what has been implied here today," said Reverend A.R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center.
"Does race play a role, does her gender play a role, is this a class issue? Whatever it is, it is wrong," said Noel Leader of the group 100 Black Officers In Law Enforcement Who Care.
Some question why Diallo continues to show her face in the media if she’s truly a sexual assault victim and her legal case is unresolved.
Her supporters say she has been forced to do so.
"When you are afraid and your back is against the wall and you are crying out for help, you do not do so behind a closed door,” said Lisa Jenkins, a professor at York College. “You knock down the doors and do what is possible and necessary so your cry for help can be heard."
Strauss-Kahn's defense team has said that any sexual act with Diallo in a Manhattan hotel was consensual. Officials from the Manhattan DA's office said the investigation is ongoing, although prosecutors have suggested the case has been weakened because of Diallo's credibility.
The former IMF chief is due back in court on August 23.
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