Nafissatou Diallo, Dominique Strauss-Kahn's Accuser, Makes First Public Appearance In Brooklyn

NEW YORK (AP) — The hotel maid who accused Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault made her first public appearance Thursday, thanking her supporters and saying she and her family had gone through a lot in the last two months.

Speaking at a cultural center in Brooklyn, a visibly nervous Nafissatou Diallo told a throng of reporters she was speaking because she wanted to "let people know a lot of things they say about me is not true."
It was the 32-year-old's first public appearance since breaking her silence in recent interviews with ABC and Newsweek.

It's nearly unheard of for an alleged sex assault victim to speak publicly before the end of court proceedings, and it's not clear whether her decision to come forward affected her already-tenuous relationship with the prosecutors investigating her case.

Diallo and her attorney met with prosecutors on Wednesday for nearly eight hours. It was their first meeting since the Manhattan district attorney's office publicly announced it had doubts about her credibility. The office said she lied about what she did in the moments after her encounter with Strauss-Kahn and about her background, including by telling prosecutors a false story of having been gang-raped in her native Guinea.

Prosecutors also were concerned that the woman had mentioned Strauss-Kahn's wealth in a recorded conversation with an incarcerated friend, and that she had little explanation for tens of thousands of dollars other people had deposited in her bank account, a law enforcement official has said.

She and her lawyer have said she has made some mistakes in her life, but they should have no bearing on the case. She has said some of the questions raised about her credibility were the results of misunderstandings or misperceptions.
Strauss-Kahn has been charged with attempted rape and other crimes. The former head of the International Monetary Fund has denied Diallo's accusations. His next court date is Aug. 23, and his attorneys have said they hope the case will be dropped.

Diallo said the past two months had been filled with a lot of tears from her and her teenage daughter. She said her daughter asked her to be strong.

"I promise her I'm going to be strong for you and every other woman in the world," she said.

Diallo's attorney Kenneth Thompson said she has been wrongfully portrayed as a money-grubbing opportunist in newspaper accounts of her recorded remarks to the incarcerated friend.

The recordings also established that Diallo recounted the attack to the man during their first conversation, a day after the alleged attack. Her lawyer said that showed that her focus was on what had happened to her, not on the former French presidential candidate's wealth or stature.

Comments

[MIKEinNYC]

10:55 AM on 07/29/2011

I dunno. Maybe it's just me but when I look at this woman I don't immediately think "sex". Maybe it was the chambermaid uniform got him hot.

[PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS]

09:52 AM on 07/29/2011

This issue would never had even occured if our immigration services actually did their jobs. This woman should have been deported long ago...........................

[Esther Vanelle]

02:30 PM on 07/29/2011

u are right she is not hot at all

[hjo4]

09:47 AM on 07/30/2011

And neither are you based on your avatar. You have some nerve.

[MIKEinNYC]

09:33 AM on 07/29/2011

The City ought to drop this now. The City needs to cut a deal where charges are immediately dropped in exchange for reimbursing the man for his out-of-pocket expenses, an apology and a Release from liability.

False arrest and wrongful prosecution are compensable and the meter is running and the longer this sham continues the bigger the City's tab will be.

[MIKEinNYC]

09:28 AM on 07/29/2011

I'd like to see her deported for sneaking into the country under false pretenses and, once she got here, for filing fraudulent income tax returns where she claimed fake dependents­, probably to qualify for the earned income credit where the government pays taxpayer money to you. You try doing that, see what happens.

Like getting ripped off?

[MIKEinNYC]

09:07 AM on 07/29/2011

I never for a moment believed that any guy, DSK included, could keep an erection while forcing someone like this meeskeit to give him oral unless he took some of the super-duper Viagra that they warn us about that gives us the 4-hour erections that we can only hope for.

[MIKEinNYC]

09:02 AM on 07/29/2011

The prosecutors need to invoke nolle prosequi in this so-called case.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nolle_prosequi

[Lucille]

02:02 AM on 07/29/2011

The following are quotes from the other article Huffingtonpost posted earlier today and the link is:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/27/dominique-strauss-kahn-hotel-maid-remarks_n_911620.html?ir=New%20York

Ms. Diallo’s attorney: “Thompson said he, Diallo, prosecutors and an interpreter spent hours Wednesday on another question that has arisen about her associations and conduct: her recorded conversations with a friend who is being held in an Arizona immigration detention center after pleading guilty in a marijuana case. The two spoke on the recording in Fulani, a West African language.”

The tapes: “They contrast with a New York Times account of what Diallo had said, according to Thompson. The newspaper has reported, citing an anonymous law enforcement official, that Diallo said "words to the effect of, `Don't worry, this guy has a lot of money. I know what I'm doing'" to her friend shortly after Strauss-Kahn's arrest.”

“In her first conversation with the man, she didn't mention Strauss-Kahn's wealth at all,”
“In a subsequent conversation, she told her friend that her attacker "is powerful and rich," her lawyer said. But it was earlier in that conversation – and not in connection with any mention of Strauss-Kahn's status – that she said "I know what to do" to signal that she gone to authorities, planned to hire a lawyer and would be all right, Thompson said.”

Does the DA know whose side he's supposed to be on?

[Michelle Lilting]

09:14 AM on 07/29/2011

Lucille, may God richly BLESS you! I have been trying to get that same information through the thick skulls of the bigoted know-nothings who have come here warbling against the VICTIM like they'd lost their MINDS. LOL And I too, have wondered about the prosecution. This is reminiscent of people automatically ASSuming those female workers at ACORN were trying to help a "pimp" start a "prostitution ring" when in FACT the WHOLE VIDEOTAPE was revealed to have been spliced and diced to merely make it APPEAR that they had!! But because of the evil of the young 'editor" ( who was later JAILED), Congress too quickly acted and ACORN lost its government funding!!! Women are SICK of seeing themselves cast as "evil" when too often it is the MEN who cast those stones who are the ones guilty of EVIL!

[Lucille]

11:34 AM on 07/29/2011

This DA it seems really doesn't want to go up against DSK as he is a VERY POWERFUL man the world over but there are other victims of DSK in France willing to testify in this case and if I were a juror I wouldn't care that Ms. Diabllo embellished her asylum papers to leave Guinea, or that she lied on her taxes, are they kidding me?

Also it seems the prosecutor misinterpreted the tapes almost on purpose because he allowed, what is now proven as a false leak to the media regarding the transcripts, meanwhile he didn’t’ even have a complete transcript himself, but it was o.k. to le Ms. Diabllo reputation to be torn to shreds, and now that there is a full transcript where the remarks attributed to her were never spoken by her, as someone put together two different phrases from various points in the transcript and put them together as if she spoke it in one complete sentence, and even if she had said it, there is nothing wrong with discussing a potential civil suit, but she actually never said it anyway.

Are we to believe that Ms. Diallo at the sight of DSK's naked form could not control herself and forced herself on him making him spew all over her maid's uniform? Evidently this is the story they're putting out there.

[European1919]

01:40 AM on 07/29/2011

DSK must have been pretty desperate.

[Michelle Lilting]

09:54 AM on 07/29/2011

DSK wasn't "desperate." He is a RAPIST and a sex-addict who saw an opportunity to demonically use the element of surprise against what he considered a vulnerable woman. Too bad for him that unlike his other victims this one has STEEL in her backbone. May God bless her for what she is doing for all women!

[1frank]

01:18 AM on 07/29/2011

Give me a break .....
She lied to the INS-Homeland securityto enter the USA as she claimed to have been gang raped by soldiers and mercenary , she admited it was a lie ......
She lied about her husband being jailed in Guinea and died under torture she admited it was also a lie....
She used someone else kid to get more tax deduction that is tax fraud
She is married with a guy caught with 450 lbs of drug that's a fact , he seat in jail in Arizona
She told Him I know what I am doing with DSK , This prompted His immediate release .
She lied to the grand jury {Martha went to jail for it}
She own more than 5 cell phone , for a maid , how many do you have ? for what purpose cleaning bedrooms
she had several bank account with deposit larger than both of their income . how many bank account do you have
She claim she did not know DSK was in the suite when all VIP not only are posted at the Hotel but they have a full portefolio on what they want how they want it and when they want it , it is in the Hotel Computer system.
The chronological order of the event does not comfirm her claim , more than one hour is missing , substantiated by the computerized room key system .

[MIKEinNYC]

09:29 AM on 07/29/2011

Thank you. I'd fave you more than once if I could for laying this out.

[Michelle Lilting]

11:38 PM on 07/29/2011

MikeinNYC, um, you DO realize that EVERYTHING 1Frank just said about the tape has been REFUTED, don't you? You should read -- and PRAISE Lucille's up-to-date account of recent revelations. The Defense might need to be reprimanded-- or WORSE -- for their deliberate DISHONESTY where those tapes are concerned. Btw, what do you make of the FACT that Strauss-Kahn lied at first to police in THIS case? Strauss-Kahn told police that there was NO "sexual encounter" at ALL with the maid! It wasn't until the police confronted Strauss-Kahn with his own DNA on the maid's uniform and spit out all over the floor in DISGUST, that Strauss-Kahn then turned on a DIME and began pretending the formerly "non-existent" encounter was allegedly "consensual!" Shaking my head. In stark contrast, Ms. Diallo, the maid, has had her statements to police corroborated by the EVIDENCE! Ms. Diallo told police that she shoved Strauss-Kahn into furniture in trying to fight that demon off of her. Lo and behold, the police found fresh BRUISES on Strauss-Kahn's BACK consistent with Ms. Diallo's statement. Ms. Diallo sustained a torn ligament in her shoulder during her valiant struggle against her demon-possessed attacker, Strauss-Kahn. And a French journalist, Ms. Tristane Banon, YEARS ago told a NATIONAL TELEVISION audience in France that SHE was viciously ASSAULTED by Strauss-Kahn! That RAPIST, DSK, should get JAIL time!

[Michelle Lilting]

09:51 AM on 07/29/2011

1Frank, a huge number of foreigners desperately seeking asylum here were told by "helpers" to "embellish" the very real horrors they endured. Ms. Diallo has said that she WAS raped by two men in Guinea. That is horrific enough! Lying to get into this country is a far cry from lying about a hotel guest raping her that could shine LIGHT on her situation and threaten her status here. She bravely told on Strauss-Kahn to try to prevent him from attacking someone ELSE in SPITE of what shining a spotlight on her in IRRELEVANT areas might lead to. There is a "LAW" in this country that states a rape victim's background cannnot be used against her. That "LAW" has GOT to be the most ineffectual legislation ever passed in Congress because it is almost ALWAYS IGNORED!! It is Strauss-Kahn who has told egregious lies where THIS case is concerned. And it turns out that Ms. Diallo was corroborated by the computerized room key system and the prosecution had to admit it was mistaken. Psychiatrists also know that traumatized people can often continue to follow a routine in robot-fashion. She claimed she did not know Pepe LePew aka Strauss-Kahn was in that suite because she did NOT know. An employee at the hotel had told her the suite was empty and to clean it -- and THAT is not in question! That is EXACTLY what happened. What do you make of Tristane Banon, ANOTHER victim of DSK?!

[Theophrastus]

12:43 AM on 07/29/2011

*sigh*.....
The atheism community's greatest fault is all in the timing.
It's like that time your uncle bought you the snow-cone and then asked for sex.
He should have waited a few years and bought you a Camaro.
He's have got a lot further.
At least with me he did. ;)

[Michelle Lilting]

09:33 AM on 07/29/2011

Theophrastus, that's DISGUSTING! You need psychiatric treatment! And Strauss-Kahn is a RAPIST -- a menace to society who should be IMPRISONED for the safety of the denizens of it!!

[Theophrastus]

03:39 PM on 07/29/2011

It would appear that I had too many tabs open last night and posted something here intended to be in response to another tab opened in my Firefox browser. Despite that mistake, and even though the content really made no sense to the actual subject at hand, I applaud you for having the mental gymnastics to make it fit here in this thread. In retrospect, I really should have posted it here but changed the "atheist community" thing to Strauss Kahn. Thanks for showing me the power of the Dark Side....

[Bikada]

12:41 AM on 07/29/2011

This woman is so very unattracive it really is hard to imagine any man not being able to resist her. Too many lies in the past but if her current story is true it should never change from the beginning. The best indicator of future behavior is past behavior.

[Michelle Lilting]

10:03 AM on 07/29/2011

Bikada, HUH? As psychiatrists well know, RAPE is a crime of power and Violence. Every kind of female from 80 year-old nuns to 2 year-old TODDLERS have been RAPED. "Looks" have nothing to do with it! Strauss-Kahn, a RAPIST, was "looking" to RAPE someone! OTHER maids in the hotel had said that Strauss-Kahn tried to LURE them to his room with offers of drinks! They ALL REFUSED and moreover called his "overtures" grossly inappropriate. Some of those same "potential victims" were among the crowd of maids jeering Strauss-Kahn and protesting with signs as he was being marched toward justice (hopefully)! May he ROT in JAIL!

[Denise Delezland]

12:21 AM on 07/29/2011

I agree with jrauguste1. Since no one was in the room to know what really went on the only thing we have to rely on is Dialo’s credibility, and she has no credibility. DSK did not deny that something sexual happen between them but he said it was consensual and she said it was attempted rape. Her story reminds me of the childhood fable “The Boy Who Cried Wolf.” The little shepherd boy lied so many times about the wolf attacking the flock that when the wolf did attack nobody believed him. Unless there is physical evidence this case cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor goes forth with this case it will be a waste of time and taxpayers money.

[hjo4]

12:51 AM on 07/29/2011

[DSK did not deny that something sexual happen between them but he said it was consensual and she said it was attempted rape]
Are you suggesting the dignified Ms Diallo would have consensual sex with that pig,if so why. First he claimed no sexual contact occurred, then AFTER his DNA was discovered in her mouth and the bruises she suffered were consistent of sexual abuse according to the rape exam,he said consensual sex did happen. His story has changed more than hers. It seems DSK has some major concerns here because he DID sexually assault Ms.Diallo.

[Michelle Lilting]

09:25 AM on 07/29/2011

Denise, actually DSK DID deny something sexual happened in that suite. And he lied to POLICE in stating at first that there was NO sexual "encounter" at ALL!! It wasn't until police put DNA in his LYING, RAPIST FACE that Strauss-Kahn then turned on a DIME and pretended that the previous allegedly "NON-EXISTENT" encounter was "consensual!!" In STARK contrast, Ms. Diallo told Police that she SHOVED demonic Strauss-Kahn into furniture in trying to fight him off of her in that hotel suite. Lo and behold, the POLICE INVESTIGATORS find fresh BRUISES on Strauss-Kahn's back consistent with Ms. Diallo's statement! Ms. Diallo also sustained injury during her valiant FIGHT against her attacker -- including a TORN LIGAMENT in her shoulder! Strauss-Kahn is the egregious liar where THIS case is concerned!! Btw, you DO know that ANOTHER woman, a French journalist, YEARS ago said on NATIONAL TELEVISION in France that Strauss Kahn aka Pepe LePew viciously tried to rape HER TOO, don't you? And she had only been there to try to INTERVIEW HIM!! Strauss-Kahn aka the demonic Pepe LePew belongs in JAIL!

[Freedom Lives]

12:13 AM on 07/29/2011

Defense lawyers will make her look like chopped liver when they get through with her.

[HelloWerld]

11:53 PM on 07/28/2011

If you know anything about DSK, he's a womanizer, has been accused of sexual assault before (attempted rape being taken up in France at the moment), has cheated on his wife numerous times and bragged about it, made sexually suggestive comments to the flight attendant minutes before being yanked off the plane, AND has been accused by another hotel maid of sexual assault. Yes, she wasn't up front, BUT that doesn't mean he didn't do it. Why would you let all of the very publicly known incidences against him "go" as evidence of it being possible, but write her off is my question to all the nay sayers? Rape is rape. Liars can get raped. Prostitutes can get raped. Maids who say they're going to try to capitalize from it could have been raped. The logic behind dismissing it without hearing the details in court make no sense to me.

[1frank]

01:27 AM on 07/29/2011

Being a womanizer and being a rapist are 2 differents facts , you said made sexually suggestive comment tom the flight attendant , I have followed the affair very close from both side of the Atlantic and Africa , a lot of information was published , her home town , her family her former adress no one ever substantiated any of her claim , they did not have the military actions and rape she claimed to have been subjected in her country , the conflict did not affect her region , noew you are coming up with statement about sexually explicit conduct / comment toward flight attendant , back it up .
She was never raped , she is twice the size of the old man and some 30 years younger .

[HelloWerld]

06:51 AM on 07/29/2011

Let me guess: you're French. Got it.

[jrauguste1]

11:11 PM on 07/28/2011

Enough already with this woman. She is not trustworthy. Having lied on her INS application about being gang-raped in her native country. Having lied to her housing authority to obtain the apartment where she now resides. Having lied to the IRS about having two children dependents. Having suspicious large money deposits into various bank accounts opened under her name, some depositors being now in jail for alleged drug trafficking. Having lied about her exact activities immediately after the sexual encounter with DSK. Having lawyered up with intention of filing a civil lawsuit for mega bucks. Having given vacillating versions to detectives and district attorneys of the events she complains of, as reported and publicly declared by the prosecuting team. Having been taped expressing herself ambiguously by saying in a related conversation with a jailed confidant: "I know what to do". She will be vulnerable in cross examination where her sincerity, narration, veracity, bias, motivation will be at the very least, vigorously tested by able and experienced attorneys.

She is a notorious liar. Time after time she has put her interest above that of society. She cannot be believed even if her tongue is stamped certified and notarized. And what is needed is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Good luck with that.

She made herself the center of the story by going public. She has taken the bright spotlights off of DSK and placed them on herself, front and center. More amunition for potential cross examination. A nightmarish alleged victim.

[Michelle Lilting]

11:57 PM on 07/29/2011

Jrauguste1, Ms. Diallo's infinitely more "trustworthy" than Strauss-Kahn. SHE never ASSAULTED anyone. In STARK contrast, not only did Strauss-Kahn viciously assault Ms. Diallo, but a journalist, Ms. Tristane Banon, years ago on national television in France, discussed DSK's vicious assault on HER! Ms. Banon has now -- because her case is within the statute of limitations in France-- FILED ASSAULT CHARGES against demonic Strauss-Kahn HERSELF! Strauss-Kahn LIED to police at first about whether or not an "encounter" with the maid occurred at ALL! It wasn't until they confronted him with his own DNA that LYING DSK then turned on a DIME and pretended the "non-existent" encounter was allegedly "consensual." Rolling my eyes. In STARK contrast, Ms. Diallo's statement to police has been corroborated by evidence. Ms. Diallo told police that she shoved DSK into furniture. Lo and behold, POLICE INVESTIGATORS found fresh BRUISES on Strauss-Kahn's back consistent with Ms. Diallo's statement. Ms. Diallo also sustained injuries, including a torn ligament in her shoulder from her valiant struggle against her demonic attacker, Strauss-Kahn. And we all know about Tristane Banon's charges against the, and I quote, "Rutting Chimpanzee" aka Strauss-Kahn who viciously assaulted HER. And when DSK's defense began, ON predictable CUE, I might add, to TRY to besmirch the victim as an alleged "prostitute," she had every RIGHT to publicly take them on and REFUTE their evil. GOOD for her! Where can I send money to aid her in her brave fight?