The Los Angeles District Attorney waylaid celebrated director and elderly artist, Roman Polanski, on his way to receive a lifetime achievement award in Zurich. According to an unclear extradition policy between Switzerland - famously neutral in all regards - and the United States, Polanksi was detained and awaits a formal extradition request from the US. U.S. authorities were made aware of Mr. Polanski's intent to visit the country and set the arrest in motion prior to his arrival.
In 1978, Roman Polanksi was coerced, under duress, into entering a one-sided plea "deal" to serve 42 days in jail. Polanski plead guilty to one charge of "drugging" and "raping" a 13-year old girl - a girl who drank some wine and had consensual sex with him. The judge overseeing the case - in which Polanski was charged with six counts and faced life in prison - reneged on the deal Polanski was tricked into taking. Polanski understandably fled the country, rather than face life in prison at the hands of a dishonest judge. Unfortunately, American judges come in no other form.
Recently, a judge Espinoza admitted misconduct by the previous judge, but insisted Polanski return to the United States to file for a dismissal of the case - and face further judicial misconduct. Polanski is understandably reticent to do so and his lawyer said they would fight the charges in Switzerland, as Polanksi would be immediately arrested as a "fugitive" once he enters America. Even the victim called the court's order for Polanski to appear in court "a cruel joke." In fact, the victim has repeatedly asked for the charges to be dropped, saying the continued coverage continually harms her, her husband, and her children.
But the US "justice" system - and the Los Angeles District Attorney, in particular - isn't having any of that! Especially not in the day and age of To Catch a Predator. The French authorities stated they were "dumbfounded" by the shady, underhanded dealings between Switzerland and America, and are said to be watching the (mis-)handling of this case closely. Mr. Polanski is, after all, not only a renowned and decorated actor and director, but a French (senior!) citizen.
The organizers of the Zurich Film Festival, who were set to honor Mr. Polanski with a Lifetime Achievement Award, were "shocked and dismayed" by America's misbehavior. A special ceremony is being held so all in attendance can show their "solidarity and admiration" for Polanski. Even the British writer who has been accompanying the celebrated director was "taken aback" by America's deplorable disregard for international law.
Roman Polanski maintains a home in Switzerland, which raises pertinent questions as to why he has not been arrested before. However, Swiss police - working in collusion with the Los Angeles District Attorney's office - said a provisional arrest warrant had been issued "this time." American spokespersons claim previous attempts to apprehend Polanski in similar fashion had proven unfruitful.
Without a doubt, the Los Angeles District Attorney is a shining example of all that is wrong with America and why the rest of the world considers us "assholes." Los Angeles is, by the by, largely regarded as the "Asshole of the World," and this guy is its representation. This is nothing more than classless grandstanding which shows the rest of the world what we American citizens have been dealing with since the Bush Administration: District Attorneys whose power-mad and highly illegal shenanigans have gone unchecked for far too long! They are no longer merely a threat to private, American citizens, but all people, worldwide!
The United States justice system has been repeatedly hijacked by District Attorneys who have far too much power in all spheres of the judicial system. Even when these white-collar criminals have been held responsible for their frequent misdeeds, they are shown preferential treatment because their imprisonment would lead to their deaths at the hands of those they have wronged. In short, they have never faced justice.
The Los Angeles District Attorney should be charged in France, and other countries throughout the world, with any charges that can be brought against him, found guilty in absentia, and ostracized in L.A . - where he will hopefully be brought up on charges of official misconduct and sent to jail. Where they will welcome him with open jumpsuits.
Roman Polanski is a world-renowned artist who has brought the world such cinematic treasures as Rosemary's Baby, Fearless Vampire Killers, and Chinatown; the Los Angeles District Attorney's office helped acquit a gaggle of racist cops of beating and torturing Rodney King, then allowed O.J. Simpson to walk on first-degree murder charges. The Los Angeles District Attorney has nothing to offer society, nor the world, and should be exported to France to face charges of misconduct, as he is certain to receive preferential treatment in America. This is a shocking, disgraceful grab at headlines by a mockery of a human being and a worldwide embarrassment to America!
The Roman Polanksi arrest is the perfect example of the abuses and gross misconduct American District Attorneys have been getting away with for years now.
© C Harris Lynn, 2009
A rambling melange of pop-culture.
5 comments:
Surely a 13 year old can't give consent? Any sex with a minor, consensual or not, is rape. End of story.
Well, a 13-year old boy certainly seems to be able to give consent to his teacher - and don't call me Shirley. Seriously though, I have to agree with you there.
13-year old boys and their middle-aged teachers aside, Ted Kennedy's sons and nephews certainly haven't contributed as much to society, and yet exceptions were made in their cases... Nifong ruined four or five lives, and yet they made an exception in his case and he served only one fucking day (because Justice would have been served, had he been forced into general population, where he could hang-out with all the other lives he ruined with his misconduct) - and I doubt they reviewed all the other cases he oversaw in his 30+-year career, although every, single person ever convicted by that cretin should have been set free that very day.
Long story short, Polanski is not a pedophile, he just engaged in pedophilia. I know the division is dubious to most, but there is a huge difference in being Evil and engaging in an Evil act. The whole, sordid affair was... gross and certainly makes one lose respect for Polanski as a human being (as opposed to an artist). And though some are saying his troubled past somehow "contributed" to this whole thing, I think that's crap - he was higher than the price of gas and did a really stupid thing.
I don't know WTF he was doing photographing her topless to begin with - and I certainly don't know why her mother agreed to it (but I am not blaming the victim!) - and that's totally acceptable for French society! (I'm also not slamming French society, I'm just saying that shit does not fly here in the States and... well, okay, I personally don't know what's sexy about a 13-year old topless, either - I don't know that I think it "sick," just... not socially responsible, at the very least. Remember, 13 is the age of consent over there, I'm pretty sure.)
However, Polanski served 42 days, which is what the judge originally agreed to, and has made sizable and noteworthy contributions to the betterment of society above and beyond that; he's paid his debt to American society.
I agree with you, Jonathan, and thanks for writing, but there is much more to this story. Let us not forget that the victim is now 40 years old and has repeatedly asked for the charges to be dropped!
Can it now truly be said, "America: World Police?"
Couple of quick addenda: Polanski plead guilty to one charge of sexual misconduct with a minor, nothing else; all other charges were dropped, then reinstated by the judge who, even by the original prosecuting attorney's admission, acted inappropriately. This is, of course, 30 freaking years past, and there is a mountain of data which is not being represented to the press, much of which calls into question the "consensual" nature of the encounter.
While Jonathan is correct by American standards, in many countries - particularly throughout Europe - 13 is the age of consent. In fact, some states in the Union have ages of consent possibly as low as 13 (15 I know for certain, 16 in at least two states, and 13 is the age of consent to marriage in at least one state around where I live). While these age limits may have been changed recently, they were certainly in effect in 1977!
In a very real sense, Polanski was guilty of little more than a cultural faux pas - IIRC, that was largely his defense at the time, though it was basically thrown-out.
Not to blame the victim, but the girl's mother let her pose topless, then accompany a 40-year old man to Jack Nicholson's house! While the age of consent in Europe may be 13, the culture is obviously quite different; girls there are more apt to be prepared for such advances at that age, while American girls... well, are too these days - but maybe not in 1977. And either way it goes, that's fricking creepy: WTF would a 40-year old man want with a 13-year old girl? Like I said, Polanski was high as a kite.
Everything - all of this - aside, the real brass tacks to this story is that everyone involved wants to drop the charges and be done with the whole thing 30 years on... except the Los Angeles District Attorney, who most certainly is guilty of official misconduct and abuse of authority, and should be investigated by an international tribunal to discover what "pressure" he applied and how.
An AP "accident" revealed that reporters have some leads which suggest Switzerland was "under pressure from THE U.S." - read: the Los Angeles District Attorney.
DAs in this country have a long and very clear history of abuse. They have to be punished, an example must be made, and their powers must be curbed!
Yes, Roman did admit he had sex with the 13 year old girl; however, he was not charged with rape. … what he did was wrong, even if it was long ago, he still was made responsible for this…
Polanski was denied bail by Switzerland on the grounds that there was reason to believe he would flee.
Post a Comment