Durham County District Attorney Mike "Prosecutorial Misconduct" Nifong has dropped first-degree forcible rape charges against three Duke lacrosse players.

According to the dismissal form, investigator Linwood Wilson interviewed the accuser on Thursday.

"The victim in this case indicated that, while she initially believed that she had been vaginally penetrated by a male sex organ ... she cannot at this time testify with certainty" that it occurred, Nifong wrote. Since such penetration is one of the elements the state must prove beyond a reasonable doubt in a prosecution of a charge of first-degree forcible rape, "the State is unable to meet its burden of proof with respect to this offense," he continued.

Maybe this interview should've been done months ago?

The unfortunate news is that charges of sexual assault and kidnapping still stand -- proving that Nifong continues to put his political career ahead of justice.

With zilch DNA evidence linking the accused to the "victim," Nifong is only now cynically trying to align his legal case with the available evidence. The players might have used foreign objects instead of themselves, so that explains the complete and utter lack of DNA evidence.

I wonder if this means that the paternity test for the "victim's" child is now unnecessary.

The way this case has been handled, you'd almost think this was taking place in North Korea.

Blogger LaShawn Barber has been all over this for months and is collecting a news and analysis here.