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(Reuters) - Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn will not plead guilty to minor charges or cut a deal in the sexual assault case against him in New York, his lawyer said in remarks published Thursday.
Strauss-Kahn, who was the Socialist Party's leading candidate for the French 2012 presidential election, was arrested by New York police in mid-May on charges of attempting to rape a hotel maid.
"We will not negotiate on any point and will not plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge in this case," William Taylor was quoted as saying in Le Figaro newspaper.
"The only acceptable conclusion to this (for the defense) is the complete dropping of all charges."
Strauss-Kahn has repeatedly denied the charges.
New York prosecutors and defense lawyers agreed Monday to postpone the next court date to Aug 1 to give both sides more time to investigate.
Taylor said no decision was likely at that meeting.
"It's a routine appearance and the two sides will explain where their investigations stand," Taylor told Le Parisien newspaper. "The judge should say 'thank you and you can come back in three weeks or September.'"
(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)