Strauss-Kahn Will Not Strike Plea Deal

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According to CNN, French financier Dominique Strauss-Kahn's attorney has stated that his client will not accept any plea bargain and "won't plead guilty to anything." These comments followed an extensive meeting between defense attorneys representing Strauss-Kahn and prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney's office. Just a week ago, District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. acknowledge that serious questions existed regarding the credibility of Strauss-Kahn's accuser.

The 62-year-old former chief of the International Monetary Fund is charged with sexual abuse and attempted rape of a hotel maid in May.

While Wednesday's meeting with prosecutors was "constructive," Strauss-Kahn's attorneys said, prosecutors maintained that they are not ready to drop the charges.

"The investigative process is continuing, and no decisions have been made," said Manhattan District Attorney spokeswoman Erin Duggan.

The accuser's civil attorney has called on Vance to recuse himself from prosecuting the case and appoint a special prosecutor.

"We make this request in order to protect the integrity of the prosecution of Mr. Strauss-Kahn, to ensure the victim's rights are not further prejudiced by deliberate acts seeking to undermine her credibility, to insulate your office from the appearance of conflict of interest, and to ensure that future victims of sex crimes, regardless of their backgrounds, are not dissuaded from coming forward," attorney Kenneth P. Thompson wrote in a four-page letter to Vance.

But Duggan said Vance will not recuse himself. "Any suggestion that this office should be recused is wholly without merit," she said in a statement.

Thompson told CNN his client has admitted mistakes, but says that has nothing to do with what happened in Strauss-Kahn's hotel suite. "Despite everything," he told CNN Tuesday, "she wants to get on the witness stand. That's all she asks for."
Read the entire CNN story here.

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