Strauss-Kahn gets passport returned

Dominique Strauss-Kahn's passport was turned over to his lawyers Thursday afternoon, officials said, leaving him free to return to his native France when he chooses.

The return of the passport came two days after sex-assault charges by a hotel maid against the former International Monetary Fund chief were dismissed by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.

Strauss-Kahn and his wife, Anne Sinclair, have a house in the Washington, D.C., area, which he used while working at the IMF. After being released on bail in New York, he had been living in TriBeCa.

The onetime French presidential prospect said Tuesday that he had business to take care of in the U.S. before returning to France, but also said he was eager to go home.

His lawyers were not available for comment Thursday on his travel plans.

In France, he faces another sexual assault charge brought by a French author, Tristane Banon, that is under investigation, and a political future clouded by uncertainty about how much damage has been done to his image by the now-dismissed charges in New York.

Vance's office said it dismissed the case because of credibility questions involving the maid, Nafissatou Diallo.