DSK Passport Gets Returned After Charges Dismissed

Former International Monetary Fund leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn is free to travel the world again after getting his passport back from New York City prosecutors who decided not to pursue a sexual assault case against him.

It's unclear when he might put the passport to use.

A person familiar with the matter tells The Associated Press that Strauss-Kahn's passport was returned to his lawyers Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the passport's return, which was done privately.

The case against Strauss-Kahn was dismissed Tuesday after prosecutors said they no longer considered his accuser reliable. He has said he "can't wait to go back" to his native France but has other things to do first. One option could be a stay at his home in Washington, D.C.

The Guinean hotel maid who accused him is pursuing a lawsuit.

A judge tossed out the case against Dominique Strauss-Kahn on Tuesday, more than three months after he was arrested and accused of sexually assaulting a Manhattan hotel maid.

Strauss-Kahn released a statement after the court appearance, saying the time since his arrest has been "a nightmare" for him and his family.

"We look forward to returning to our home and resuming something of a more normal life," he said.

His biographer said outside court that Strauss-Kahn plans to head to Washington, D.C., for a few days and then back to France.

Strauss-Kahn was believed to be a top French presidential contender until the incident.

He had been charged with attempted rape, sex abuse and a criminal sex act, among other counts, with the most serious charge carrying up to 25 years in prison.

The dismissal came more than seven weeks after a judge released Strauss-Kahn from house arrest as investigators admitted they had discovered significant problems with the maid's credibility.