Strauss-Kahn case delayed for 2 weeks

Prosecutors will use a two-week delay announced Monday in the sex case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn to reinterview the maid who accused him and complete translating a recorded phone conversation she had with a jailed friend, a law enforcement source said.

The postponement of Strauss-Kahn's next court appearance from July 18 until Aug. 1 came a little more than a week after the Manhattan district attorney agreed to drop bail restrictions on the former International Monetary Fund president and admitted to doubts about the credibility of his accuser.

Strauss-Kahn's lawyers, who have been pressing District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. to dismiss the charges, agreed to the delay. Prosecutors, in a letter to Judge Michael Obus, said it would allow for further investigation.

The woman, a 32-year-old Guinean immigrant, accused Strauss-Kahn of attacking her on May 14 when she went to clean his suite, Room 2806 at the Sofitel in Manhattan.

The DA's office has said the accuser lied in her 2004 asylum application, made conflicting statements about what she did after the alleged assault, and spoke to a jailed friend on a recorded call about Strauss-Kahn's wealth and possible benefits to her.

The maid's lawyers, who have pressed for the prosecution to go forward, seemed pleased.

"We are hopeful that the district attorney has taken notice of the many people from all walks of life that have come out in support of our client despite what appears to be an orchestrated campaign of leaks to discredit her," said lawyer Doug Wigdor. "In the coming weeks, we hope to refocus the dialogue on what really matters -- namely, what happened in room 2806."

Strauss-Kahn lawyers Ben Brafman and William Taylor, in a joint statement, said, "We hope that during this time the district attorney will make the necessary decision to dismiss the case."