Supporters: Strauss-Kahn Could Regain Political Future

Now that the case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn seems to be coming apart at the seams, some in France’s Socialist Party say the former IMF head could again be a presidential contender.

Strauss-Kahn, who allegedly sexually assaulted a maid in New York in May, was released from house arrest yesterday by a judge after his accuser’s possible links to criminal activity came to light. Law enforcement officials have thrown the maid’s credibility into doubt, saying she may have links to money laundering and that they suspect she may have lied in her application for asylum about another sexual assault that allegedly occurred in Guinea.

Former Socialist prime minister Lionel Jospin tells the BBC : "If we hypothesize that Dominique is cleared of all suspicion and all charges, which I obviously hope will happen, then it will be first down to him to decide ... and then it will be down to the Socialists to decide."

The former IMF head, who resigned in the wake of accusations that he sexually assaulted a maid in his New York City hotel room, was once considered the top choice by the Socialist Party to be France’s next leader. Nominations for the presidency are due on July 13, but members of the party, who anticipate the possibility that Strauss-Kahn may beat the charges against him, say the deadline could potentially be extended.

Meanwhile, Manhattan district attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr.’s own credibility seems to be suffering. Vance Jr., who is managing the case against Strauss-Kahn, took over the position less than two years ago and has since butted heads with other prosecutors and presided over a cooling relationship with New York City’s Police Department, according to a new story in the New York Times.

One former supporter of the district attorney called a spate of recent stinging losses from the DA’s office “like a series of bad dreams.” Others tell the Times they worry cases are being pursued over publicity factor rather than hard evidence.