Ahead of a key hearing next week in former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn's sexual abuse case, US prosecutors are examining claims that the lawyer for the accusing maid had intended not to proceed with the criminal allegations in case of a civil settlement.
Citing people who were briefed on the matter, a report in the Wall Street Journal said Kenneth Thompson, the lawyer for hotel maid Nafissatou Diallo, had "initiated the talks with Strauss-Kahn's lawyers after prosecutors began to learn of serious weaknesses in their sexual-assault case against Strauss-Kahn".
However, no settlement was reached.
The prosecutors had requested this month that Thompson provide them with information about any settlement negotiations, the report added.
The next court hearing in the case is on August 23 and prosecutors are expected to announce whether they intend to pursue the case.
The report, quoting people familiar with the matter, said Thompson discussed with the defence team about stalling the criminal case after questions were raised by the prosecutors over Diallo's credibility.
Diallo's lawyers had also prepared a "confidentiality agreement for the meeting".
At a June 9 meeting, Diallo told prosecutors that she had lied on an application seeking asylum in the US and made up a story about being gang-raped in her native country of Guinea, law enforcement officials have said.
Thompson and his partner Douglas Wigdor had met with the defence team the following week, the report added.
The discussions occurred during a 19-day period when Diallo's lawyers did not permit her to be interviewed by prosecutors.
The report said Thompson termed the claims about the settlement negotiations as "false" adding "we look forward to trying this case before a jury".
Strauss-Kahn's lawyers, William Taylor and Benjamin Brafman said Thompson should be "honest and complete about what happened".
Thompson had last week filed a civil lawsuit against Strauss-Kahn on behalf of his client seeking unspecified monetary damages for the sexual assault that happened in a posh Manhattan hotel in May.
Strauss-Kahn has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers have said they will defend the case "vigorously".
