The New York hotel maid who accused former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault has made a public appearance in New York, while her lawyer has promised a civil suit against her alleged attacker.

Nafissatou Diallo, an immigrant to the United States from Guinea, told a crowd Thursday that the events of the past two months have been hard on her and her daughter. She said they both cry “every day.” Diallo said she is speaking out to tell people that many of the negative rumors about her and her past are not true.

Her lawyer told reporters Thursday that Diallo plans to file a civil suit against Strauss-Kahn, even if the criminal case against him is dropped.

In recent days, Diallo sat for interviews with Newsweek magazine and ABC television, saying she wants justice and her alleged attacker sent to jail. Prosecutors have said they doubt her credibility because of inconsistencies in her story.

Charges are still pending against Strauss-Kahn, who denies them. His lawyers say the interviews are an attempt by Diallo to sway public opinion and extract money.

In a televised interview with ABC News, Diallo said she did not know who Strauss-Kahn was before the attack, and once she found out she thought she would be killed.

The veteran French politician was arrested in May on charges he attacked the maid at a luxury New York City hotel. The arrest prompted his resignation as IMF chief, and former French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde was chosen to succeed him.

Before his arrest, Strauss-Kahn was considered a top contender to run as the Socialist Party candidate against French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012.