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Is Polanski the New O.J.?
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As the Swiss deny his appeal for bail, L.A. prosecutors tell Marcia Clark—who tried O.J. Simpson—that Roman's case should be a slam dunk. No wonder everyone's worried.
Roman Polanski’s arrest has sparked some intense and surprising reactions. The movie people—excuse me, they call it “film”—have mounted a “Free Polanski” campaign. And everyone else seems almost more disgusted by that reaction than by Polanski’s crime.
So I was curious: How were the rank and file prosecutors in the Los Angeles district attorney’s office reacting to the director’s Sept. 26 arrest in Zurich for the 1977 rape of a minor, and to the possibility of him being schlepped back to L.A. for trial? A lot of people, some of my friends included, had been under the impression the case was just about a drunken older guy getting a little handsy with a sexy young Lolita in a hot tub. And so they thought, “What’s the big deal? Why waste the time and money on extradition?” Los Angeles prosecutors have caseloads full of victims who’ve endured worse than Polanski’s victim, Samantha Geimer, so I wondered whether they’d look at this case as a headache no one—including the victim—really needed.
“If you manage to pull it off and get a conviction, everyone says, ‘So what? Big deal, it was a no-brainer.’ And if you lose,” the veteran prosecutor looks at me meaningfully and pauses, “well, I don’t have to tell you.”
“He should go to jail or go to trial,” said a young male deputy. The others nodded their agreement. “Yeah, he pled, and he skipped out. If they don’t want to bother with the rape case, they should at least nail him for failure to appear at sentencing,” said a veteran prosecutor, flatly. (Polanski fled abroad after pleading guilty to one count of statutory rape.)
There wasn’t a lot of heat behind the words. It was just a matter-of-fact statement of the obvious. They seemed amused by the question. Their expressions said, “What’s to talk about?” Polanski’s a big director—so? The victim doesn’t want to testify—do they ever? They care very little about what the media reports, what Hollywood thinks, or what anyone else thinks of Hollywood. With all the hoopla swirling around out here, their attitude was refreshing.
• Polanski Scandal Full Coverage
• Ben Crair: How Polanski Could Help the Right I pressed on, curious to find out if there was any dissension to be found among the ranks: Does anyone think we should just let it go, that he’s done his time? It’s been reported that the judge agreed Polanski wouldn’t have to do any more time after he finished doing the 42 days in prison for diagnostic testing. As I’ve reported, no such statement appears in the transcript of the guilty plea. Should Polanski face a whole new sentence now? Or should he get the pass he claims he was promised? “No way he should get that deal now,” said the veteran prosecutor, as the other two young deputies nodded approvingly.
The young female deputy added, “I don’t think he ever should have anyway.” The other two prosecutors nodded their agreement.
But in that case, he might be allowed to withdraw his plea and go to trial. What if a case can’t be pulled together?
“File the FTA [failure to appear]. He’s hosed on that,” said the older deputy.
That’s true. And that’s a potential three-year stint in state prison. I moved on.
What about the allegations of prosecutorial misconduct?
“God, what’re they saying we did now?” asked a young female prosecutor, her brow wrinkled with worry and curiosity.
John Talks Joe
Lloyd Grove is editor at large for The Daily Beast. He is also a frequent contributor to New York magazine and was a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio. He wrote a gossip column for the New York Daily News from 2003 to 2006. Prior to that, he wrote the Reliable Source column for the Washington Post, where he spent 23 years covering politics, the media, and other subjects.
The Lost Polanski Transcripts
Marcia Clark, the former L.A. district attorney who prosecuted the O.J. Simpson murder case, has since served a regular legal television commentator. She has written a bestselling book, Without a Doubt, served as a columnist for Justice Magazine and is finishing her debut crime novel.
Polanski's Lost Alibi
Marcia Clark, the former L.A. district attorney who prosecuted the O.J. Simpson murder case, has since served a regular legal television commentator. She has written a bestselling book, Without a Doubt, served as a columnist for Justice Magazine and is finishing her debut crime novel.
The Coverup Is Worse Than the Crime
Marcia Clark, the former L.A. district attorney who prosecuted the O.J. Simpson murder case, has since served a regular legal television commentator. She has written a bestselling book, Without a Doubt, served as a columnist for Justice Magazine and is finishing her debut crime novel.
FREE POLANSKI badge (the one they wouldn't show)
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so marcia, why not try this case, lose it like you did the other? no one cares what you think, just start hanging out at those after-hours bars down in south central you cheap blonde facelifted floozie
Is Ms. Clark having a hard time " letting it (OJ Trial) go ? "
Is she trying to reinvent her own image,
perhaps looking for an excuse, a comparison, to rationalize her own failure ?
I guess this means Roman will beat the rap. Or just get his wrist slapped. I wish someone would edit these things. The ending reaches for clever subtlety, and falls short. Tina, are you listening? George Patton
I agree. Tina, can't you find someone better (and not just a better writer, but better attorney) to follow this issue? Tripe, Tripe, Tripe. Who cares about some junior prosecutors. Come on there are better qualified for this beat.
and you are the same tiresome idiot who spouts constantly and knows nothing. the story's about the rank and file people, whom some people care about. clearly that's not you. btw, if clark had done everything the same and won the case, you wouldn't be knocking her - which only shows to go that she's exactly right. go to school Cooper - or find something to comment on that's your speed, like Branjelina or something.
wakeupastc translation:
You make unqualified comments. You also do not consider the common folk. You are picking on Ms. Clark because she wasn't successful in convicting OJ. So that makes her right. You need remedial education to comment on issues more complicated than gossip.
no you jerk. the ending reaches for a real feeling. something you obviously have no clue about.
jeez, why don't you guys edit these inane, useless responses?
more:
I condemn you because I disagree with you.
Why don't the editors of TDB censor everybody I don't agree with?
Buzz off, you dimwit.
Is Polanski Looking for the " REAL " Rapist ?
If he were some guy working 9-5 at the CVS store and not some big time Hollywood director, we would not even be having this debate.
I don't agree with you much, but this comment is right on the money.
True, but it wouldn't be the same story. If he had been some guy working at a drug store he probably couldn't have skipped the country and ducked the law for thirty years. It'd be an even better story, but Hollywood wouldn't care.
The attorney's I've talked to say he'll walk. I'll hope for deportation. His punishment is being kept in a Swiss jail with two children at home, one a teenage girl, who might have honest questions about a dad who states, "I have a penchant for young girls."
I agree with Glenda1976. I would also add that some of the media obfuscates this situation with stories of how the victim wants this to end, that she has accepted money from Polanski, and so forth. Contrarily, there are reports of the actual act of "child rape" and so forth. Rape is rape--phrasing things ass "child rape", is like saying an "office burglar" or a "condo burglar" or a "gas station burglar". Why is are media hell bent on trying to over- or under-emphasize this crime? This is what is wrong with media--they spin the news rather than report it. Is it so difficult to just say that the victim was raped? And why are we given details of this rape as if rape is one thing and sodomy another? I am pretty disgusted by the media coverage.
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This is very easy, Polanski has already plead guilty to a reduced charge, Sentence him and be done with all of this, But I will submit that his prior arrests and convictions should be taken into consideration in his sentencing, This is a sick man, This poor girl was not the first or last to be defiled by the sicko, Let him walk and he'll do it again with an empowerment that he can't be touched by the law, You've been warned
Yeah, I think Roman Polanski is the next OJ.
A stoned Polanski drugged and raped a 13 year-old.
A pissed off Simpson nearly cut off his wife's head and also stabbed to death a guy returning a pair of glasses.
Case closed.
I'd say that he is more like this month's Michael Jackson, and an opportunity for another media feeding frenzy.
Hopefully not.
Hopefully the LA DA's office will delegate the remainder of Polanski's legal saga to an ADA worth a shit.
Polanski is white and will be convicted. A black jury has a hard time convicting a black man on what white cops and lawyers tell them is evidence. Polanski has no Polish or European jurors to get him off.
As soon as I saw OJ on the screen I knew some racist troll would come out to roost. And here you are.
Poor Marcia. She'll never live down not using the "slow speed chase". That one piece of indirect evidence that had one meaning and one meaning only; OJ did it.
If the woman doesn't want it to proceed it shouldn't.
The prosecutors should listen her and not their ego's. Besides California doesn't have enough space to lock up old men (or money).
Just vindictive.
Every time Marcia writes something about Polanski, someone has to remind us that California is too broke to lock up old men.
Old men should be having a field day in California. Get off scott free! Avoid the sentencing hearing! Anyone that could arrest you has been furloughed!
To me, while the original crime is pretty henious, our criminal justice system depends upon respect for the system. When you show contempt for the system--particularly by fleeing justice--you undermine its integrity. It's a crime against the state, which has no statute of limitations and should not be subject to debate.
Great point.
Also old men who prey on children would move to California if its citizen's think it is not worth the effort or $$.
Where would you have to go to find a competent jury in California?
This was a really weird & weak article, though I have nothing against Clark like these other commentors.
Tina- I will volunteer my time to help read through stuff before you print it if you are hurting for help. Don't damage your stellar brand further- it's bad enough you publish Reihan Salam.
Imagine his name was 'Fr. Roman Polanski' and it was a 13 year old boy he rapped all those years ago.
Defenders of the 2009 Polanski should be ashamed for their hypocrisy. As a father of a young woman, I say he should be dragged home in chains and a dog collar.
So obvious. Check out this "Free Polanski" sign: http://www.nobuski.com
Likening Polanski to OJ is a travesty. OJ KILLED HIS EX WIFE! Polanski has sex with a minor, which is a bad, illegal, terrible thing and nobody is saying that was okay. But at this point, even the little girl in question (now married with children) is asking for the case to be dropped! OJ is a murderer, Polanski got caught doing a bad thing 30 years ago.
Oh where is Dominick Dunne when we need him?
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