MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — Dominique Strauss-Kahn appeared in court Tuesday morning where a Manhattan judge is expected to dismiss the rape charges against him brought by a Midtown hotel maid.
The one-time French presidential hopeful arrived at 11 a.m. for his appearance before Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Michael Obus, who will be asked by prosecutors to officially quash the indictment against Strauss-Kahn.
Before the dismissal proceedings began, Obus denied a motion filed by the maid's attorney, Kenneth Thompson, to have Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. replaced on the case by a special prosecutor.
"The Court concludes that nothing called to its attention establishes disqualification or warrants removal of the elected District Attorney of this County," Obus's decision read.
The case against Strauss-Kahn fell apart after questions arouse about the credibility of the maid, Nafissatou Diallo, 32.
Prosecutors filed a 25-page motion Monday that detailed several significant lies about her background. She also told several versions about the Strauss-Kahn encounter, including what she did immediately after she left his suite, prosecutors said.
Hundreds of press photographers and cameraman where lined up outside the courthouse early Tuesday morning. The former head of the International Monetary Fund has been living in a Franklin Street townhouse while confined to New York to face the charges.
Thompson has filed a civil suit against Strauss-Kahn on Diallo's behalf in Bronx County where she lives.
