Attorney of Strauss-Kahn accuser meets DA

The attorney for the hotel maid who accused French politician Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault visited the office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., Tuesday to talk with prosecutors, a law enforcement official said.

In addition, French attorney David Koubbi, who represents French novelist Tristane Banon, who has accused Strauss-Kahn in France of an attempted rape a few years ago, also met with prosecutors Tuesday, said the official, who asked not to be named.

Kenneth Thompson has for weeks been pressing Vance's staff to keep the prosecution of Strauss-Kahn alive despite questions raised about the credibility of his client, a 35-year-old woman from Guinea who claims the Frenchman sexually attacked her May 14 in his suite at the Sofitel hotel in Manhattan. Thompson apparently kept up that pressure Tuesday.

Vance's staff revealed last month that the woman had lied to investigators and to the grand jury about her background and about certain aspects of the incident. After those discrepancies surfaced, Manhattan State Supreme Court Judge Michael Obus lifted bail restrictions on Strauss-Kahn, permitting him to travel freely within the United States but not abroad. Prosecutors said they were continuing their investigation to decide whether to pursue the prosecution or drop it. A hearing is slated for Aug. 1.

A spokesman for Vance declined to comment Tuesday about Thompson and Koubbi. The Associated Press reported Tuesday that when Thompson was seen entering the D.A.'s office at 1:30 p.m., he wouldn't say why he was there. Thompson and his spokeswoman didn't return repeated calls and emails seeking comment. Koubbi also didn't return an email request for comment.