A reprieve awaits Dominique Strauss-Kahn?

Events appear to be turning towards that conclusion. The New York Times now reports that:

The sexual assault case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn is on the verge of collapse as investigators have uncovered major holes in the credibility of the housekeeper who charged that he attacked her in his Manhattan hotel suite in May, according to two well-placed law enforcement officials.

Although forensic tests found unambiguous evidence of a sexual encounter between Mr. Strauss-Kahn, a French politician, and the woman, prosecutors now do not believe much of what the accuser has told them about the circumstances or about herself.

Since her initial allegation on May 14, the accuser has repeatedly lied, one of the law enforcement officials said.

Senior prosecutors met with lawyers for Mr. Strauss-Kahn on Thursday and provided details about their findings, and the parties are discussing whether to dismiss the felony charges. Among the discoveries, one of the officials said, are issues involving the asylum application of the 32-year-old housekeeper, who is Guinean, and possible links to people involved in criminal activities, including drug dealing and money laundering.

It is a miserable yet possible fact that Strauss-Kahn did criminally assault this woman. But that possible fact will not matter much even if it were not merely possible but actual. An assault would not matter if the victim of the assault will never provide credible testimony that can overcome the weakness of the forensic evidence. Her initial credibility contrasted strongly with the wretched and chronic behavior of the accused, a man known for his sexual appetite and his predation. Today, both stand diminished.