Strauss-Kahn thanks family as charges dropped

FORMER IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn paid tribute to his wife Anne and his family for their support as sex assault charges against him were officially dropped yesterday.

A New York appeals court yesterday rejected a request for a special prosecutor. The appeals court agreed with another court’s ruling — that there was no legal basis for a special prosecutor. Lawyers for the woman accusing the Frenchman had requested one because they felt Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R Vance was biased.

Prosecutors argued the case should be dismissed because they did not have faith in the credibility of the hotel maid who accused Strauss-Kahn of sexually assaulting her in his luxury suite in May.

State Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus said he would dismiss the charges, pending the ruling from the appeals court. The rejection of the special prosecutor request means Strauss-Kahn is free.

In a statement, Strauss- Kahn said: “These past two and a half months have been a nightmare for me and my family. I want to thank all the friends in France and in the United States who have believed in my innocence, and to the thousands of people who sent us their support personally and in writing. I am most deeply grateful to my wife and family who have gone through this ordeal with me.

“We also want to express our appreciation to Judge Obus and his staff and especially to all the people who work in this court who made such an effort to protect my wife and me whenever we came here.

“Finally, we are obviously gratified that the District Attorney agreed with my lawyers that this case had to be dismissed. We appreciate his professionalism and that of the people who were involved in that decision.

“We will have nothing further to say about this matter and we look forward to returning to our home and resuming something of a more normal life.”

Strauss-Kahn arrived at court in a six-car motorcade and was greeted by protesters wielding signs carrying such messages as “DSK treats women like property” and “Put the rapist on trial — not the victim”. Even inside the courtroom, shouting could be heard.