(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY TRACY PFEIFFER

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

After three extra months stateside, former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn is back home in his native France.

“He left the U.S. for the first time since a hotel maid accused him of sexual assault back in May of this year. New York City prosecutors dropped their case last month because of questions about the maid’s credibility.” (ABC)

The New York Times describes the scene of DSK’s departure.

“His rare public appearances during the weeks he was sequestered attracted enormous attention... In contrast, his departure on Saturday was almost leisurely. Wearing a dark suit with no necktie, Mr. Strauss-Kahn made several trips between his rented apartment and the blue van, wading through a jostling throng of photographers and camera operators as he carried various bits of luggage.”

And now back in Paris-- will Strauss-Kahn make a return to politics? He was widely considered a serious candidate to oust French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

But as France 24 reports-- DSK’s party isn’t sure they’re ready to welcome him back.

“After his arrest in May, some Socialists spoke openly of a potential scam to discredit Strauss-Kahn and get him out of the 2012 election... They rejected the rape story completely. Today, they’re really embarrassed about that.”

But New York Daily News says-- don’t start the 10-count on his career just yet.

“Supporters speculate that if a Socialist beats President Nicolas Sarkozy next year, Strauss-Kahn could snag a cabinet post and resurrect his political career. He could also run in the 2017 French presidential election.”

And as TIME reports-- it’s likely Strauss-Kahn will spend some time letting everything calm down-- before his big return.

“Now that Strauss-Kahn has left America and its criminal court system behind him, he's likely to spend time out of the media lime light as he and his advisors plan what will doubtless be a carefully orchestrated, painstakingly thought-out returns to the public sphere. Eventually.”

He might have left the American court system behind, but DSK faces accusations from another alleged attempted rape victim in France.