Lawyers Say DSK Accuser’s Remarks Were Mischaracterized

UPDATE: Lawyers for the woman accusing Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault and attempted rape say that the phone recording of a conversation the woman had with an Arizona inmate has been misportrayed in the media.

The conversation occurred in Nafissatou Diallo's native Guinean dialect, causing some confusion over what, exactly, was said. Unnamed police officials have told The New York Times that Diallo told the inmate, in effect, "Don't worry, this guy has a lot of money. I know what I'm doing."

But attorney Kenneth P. Thompson told reporters Wednesday evening after listening to the tapes for the first time that the quote had been mischaracterized, The Daily Beast reports. Thompson said that at one point she said only that “someone tried to rape me, and that he's a powerful, big man.” Then at a later time, she said, “I know what to do,” referring to the need to hire a lawyer.

UPDATE Wednesday at 2:35 p.m.: The woman accusing Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault and attempted rape met with New York prosecutors on Wednesday, as the district attorney weighs whether to continue with the case.

The New York Times reports that the woman, Nafissatou Diallo, and the prosecution were expected to listen to an audio recording of a phone conversation she had with a man in an Arizona jail in the days after she was allegedly attacked. The conversation occurred in Diallo's native Guinean dialect, causing some confusion over what, exactly, was said.

Unnamed police officials have told reporters that Diallo told the inmate, in effect, "Don't worry, this guy has a lot of money. I know what I'm doing." But in recent media interviews, Diallo claimed that her comments were in relation to finding a lawyer.

Original Post Monday at 12:09 p.m.: The hotel maid accusing former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault and attempted rape appeared on television for the first time Monday morning to tell her side of the story.

“I want justice. I want him to go to jail," Nafissatou Diallo told ABC News. "I want him to know you cannot use your power when you do something like this."

Diallo’s account of the alleged attack is largely consistent with another interview she gave to Newsweek for a cover story published Sunday.

She described in detail how she claims DSK attacked her when she tried to clean his suite at the Sofitel Hotel in New York. She said that after entering Strauss-Kahn’s suite and finding him naked, she apologized and turned away. But before she could leave, she says he was upon her.

"I was like, 'I'm so sorry,' " Diallo said. "I turned my head." But Strauss-Kahn then approached her and grabbed her breasts against her will, Diallo explained. "I said, 'Stop, sir. I don't want to lose my job.' "

The most emotional point in the interview came when Diallo recalled the moment she says she discovered the identity of the man she accused. "I was watching in the news," Diallo said, tearful, her voice halting . "And then they said he's going to be the next president of France. Then I said, 'Oh my God.' And I was crying. I said, 'They're going to kill me ...' I'm going to die ... He's a powerful man ... They're going to kill me before someone knows what happened to me."

Diallo's interviews with Newsweek and ABC mark the first time either side of the case has given a public account of what happened in Strauss-Kahn's room on May 14. Strauss-Kahn remains under indictment, although prosecutors revealed this month that they uncovered evidence that could undermine Diallo's credibility should she take the stand in a criminal trial. They say Diallo gave false information on tax returns and embellished the facts on an application for asylum in the United States.