William K. Rashbaum & John Eligion, "District Attorney Asks Judge to Drop Strauss-Khan Case: 25-Page Filing Lists Doubts About Housekeeper," in The New York Times, August 23, 2011, at p. A1. (The District Attorney's brief and supporting papers are public documents that are available to citizens and others under U.S. freedom of information laws and Constitutional provisions.)
The slogan over the federal prosecutor's office says: "The prosecutor always wins when justice is done."
Mr. Vance has demonstrated the accuracy of this statement -- at least in New York where it applies to both feds and state prosecutors -- by making it clear that Mr. Vance is not and will not become a grandstanding would-be politician nor an OAE attorney in New Jersey, which may be worse. Mr. Christie, this may come as a shock to you these days, but one is not obligated to speak into every passing microphone. ("New Jersey's 'Ethical' Legal System" and "New Jersey's Office of Attorney Ethics.")
The attempt to politicize prosecutorial responsibilities or to intimidate Mr. Vance by means of behind-the-back tactics and threats of a political nature, conveyed through staged press conferences, are an ugly indication of how things are done "elsewhere." ("Law and Ethics in the Soprano State.")
I do not believe, happily, that such below-the-belt tactics will succeed or ever be accepted in this great city. The Big Apple is too big for such sleazeball lawyering carrying a familiar and foul Garden State aroma to thrive and spread. ("Corrupt Law Firms, Senator Bob, and New Jersey Ethics.")
Obviously, Ms. Diallo's lies caught up with her. No amount of coaching from "secret" advisers, as I predicted some time ago, will obscure the transparency of Ms. Diallo's self-interested falsehoods -- falsehoods that were probably scripted by others who are still seeking a small fee for their services while remaining quite willing to produce bribed or false witnesses for purposes of "corroboration." ("New Jersey's Politically Connected Lawyers On the Tit.")
In a crowded legal profession it is amazing what some lawyers will do for money. These are the lawyers who "finagle" fees or clients from colleagues by using people to write false letters from behind-the-scenes in the names of others, letters usually containing bogus allegations -- like those brought against DSK. Have you no sense of shame, Mr. Menendez? ("Jennifer Velez is a Dyke Magnet!" and "Does Senator Menendez Have Mafia Friends?")
I doubt that we will ever know the full truth behind these accusations, especially the political motives (if there were any) for ousting a good socialist from the International Monetary Fund at the point when serious consideration was to be given to the problem of Third World debt. DSK's politics and concerns are widely shared by many people in the world. ("Time to End the Embargo Against Cuba.")
The harm suffered by DSK from these now discarded allegations certainly hint at dark conspiracies or grabs for power by persons who have become familiar to us from newscasts. An audit of the finances of DSK's successor has been undertaken, allegedly. There is no telling what the authorities will discover in some financial closets. Right, Mr. Garcia? ("Senator Bob, the Babe, and the Big Bucks.")
My view is that good-old greed and not politics explains a lot of this catastrophe. I am aware of the pending civil law suit against Mr. Strauss-Khan which will be vigorously defended, I am sure, by him -- and which may be accompanied by Mr. Strauss-Khan's own claims for damages against those responsible for this nightmare, including some attorneys involved in the case.
The harm suffered by this man who is -- at least, legally speaking -- NOT GUILTY of any crime or fault cannot be compensated easily. An effort should be made to do just that, to make the victim whole, promptly and fairly. For now, there is only one winner in this sad farce: Mr. Vance and the people of New York.
