While the investigative efforts uncovered a trail of previously unknown phones tied to the alleged victim as well as suspicious financial transactions, and even a prison call with a drug suspect in which the idea of financial gain was discussed, no evidence has been found to suggest premeditated extortion, sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Investigators “began looking at that some time ago and don’t see that here so far,” said one source. “Whenever you have a very wealthy defendant who is being accused of a sex crime, you begin looking at everything, including did money change hands between the victim and the defendant when [the sexual encounter] happened? Or was someone paid to make it happen?”

Prosecutors also have testimony from hotel colleagues that bolster the maid’s contention that she believed Strauss-Kahn had already left his hotel suite when she entered to clean the room moments before the alleged incident — undercutting the suggestion of a premeditated plot, the sources said.