Polanski Loses First Appeal for Release

Published by Jeff Leins on: October 7th, 2009

The Swiss Justice Ministry rejected the first bid by filmmaker Roman Polanski and his legal representation for his immediate release on Tuesday.  The 76-year-old has been in jail since September 26 when he was arrested at the request of Los Angeles prosecutors and where he now awaits possible extradition to the United States.

“We continue to be of the opinion that there is a high risk of flight,” said ministry spokesman Folco Galli to the AP.  You think?

Polanski fled the country 31 years ago to avoid sentencing after pleading guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.  The victim, then a 13-year-old, has asked for the case to be dropped and the director to be released, but L.A. authorities insist he return to face the charges.

While he sits in prison, Polanski’s incomplete film The Ghost may be finished without him.  Jerome Seydoux, the President of Pathe, told French reporters the political thriller will be ready for its March 2010 release date regardless of Polanski’s status and they’re planning to work on the remaining music and editing without the Oscar-winning director.

The debate over his incarceration reached a high point last week as members of Swiss, French, Polish, and American artistic cultures supported Polanski versus the vast majority of their respective fellow citizens.

One such apologist was “The View” co-host Whoopi Goldberg who said it wasn’t “rape rape.”  It is rape, so I’m not sure how it isn’t “rape rape.”  There was immediate backlash towards her factually incorrect and generally ignorant defense before she would later clarify she was referring to the legal charge.  Goldberg was parodied on last weekend’s “Saturday Night Live,” among several other outlets.  Someone remind Goldberg that “The View” is “crap crap.”

Harvey Weinstein called unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor a “so-called crime” and told the LA Times in seriousness “Hollywood has the best moral compass.”  That might serve as news to everyone else in town.