Yesterday's report that Dominique Strauss-Kahn's representatives offered the family of his accuser a "seven-figure sum" to get her to go away, though the family said they weren't interested in money, was met with deafening silence from the Strauss-Kahn camp. but today his lawyers issued a statement denying that such an offer was ever made. Agence France-Presse has the terse denial:

"Reports that Mr. Strauss-Kahn's attorneys or representatives are in contact with the complaining witness or her family are false," Benjamin Brafman and William Taylor said in a statement.

In the statement, the lawyers also reportedly reiterated their claim that they "believe that Mr Strauss-Kahn will be fully exonerated." Strauss-Kahn faces seven criminal charges for allegedly trying to rape the hotel maid in his room on May 14. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.

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Adam Martin