Star Jones: Polanski Allowed to Evade Jail

As Racism Charges Fly, Lawyer Says Fugitive Director Awaiting Word on Extradition Cannot Get Fair Trial in U.S.

(CBS)  Roman Polanski may be sitting in a Swiss prison, waiting to hear whether he will, in fact, be extradited to the U.S. to face justice, but his case is already being argued in the court of public opinion.

One of Roman Polanski's lawyers told CBS News this morning that he does not think Polanski - who admitted to sex with a thirteen year old thirty-two years ago but who fled to Europe before he was sentenced - can now get a fair trial in the United States.

And if the arguments on American television are any indication, there's no doubt feelings are running high, said CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips.

"I have no sympathy for him. He's in jail. Three hots and a cot, that's what you're supposed to get," said Star Jones on "The Insider." "Something tells me Spike Lee would not have been allowed to chill in France for the last three decades had he admitted to having sex with a 13-year-old."

Jones went on to say, "Roman Polanski is very much loved by the Hollywood industry and they are out there putting petitions together . . . Because he is white and he is rich, he was privileged."

Photos: Roman Polanski

And even if the racism card weren't being played, the case is being further confused by the admission now by an L.A. prosecutor at the time that he lied when he claimed that he tried to influence the judge in the case.

"It was me puffing up my involvement in the case," said David Wells. "If you pull all the feathers away from it, it was a lie."

Polanski reportedly fled when he began to fear his plea bargain arrangement that he would get a lighter sentence would not be honored.

Now Polanski's lawyers say the 72-year-old fugitive director is in poor health and depressed after two weeks in a Swiss jail.

The lawyer also says that the U.S., which requested Polanski's arrest, has not yet formally asked for his extradition.

It has a 40-day window to do that and the Swiss government could take months to consider it.

[MARLABABY]

Star Jones?? you're missing OJ Simpson. Didn't he murder two people and get away with it?? Was it because he was Black?? have you been chattin with the "GOOD OLE REVERAND AL?? Maybe you should speak to President
Obama....remember the mistake he made when he "accused" the Policeman from Cambridge of being "stupid"..If you wanna talk RACE. Can you imagine if it was George Bush making a comment like that about a Black Policeman...I can imagine. There would be rioting in the streets. GET OFF THE RACE THANG!!

[MARLABABY]

Perhaps Ms. Star is missing Michael Jackson in her attempt at throwing the race card....again. Michael Jackson and Roman Polanski are both "kiddie diddler's"....but somehow Jacko seems to have come out as a saint.

Ms. Star should practice what she preaches. Afterall, she was a Prosecutor wasn't she??

[comfortfoods]

Star Jones is using a Johnny Cochran ploy, she is throwing out the race card to get the public to pounce on it, so as to elude them from the sympathy card. Well people still feel a lot of sympathy toward Polanski, and they always will. He came home to find his unborn child cut from his wife's stomach and she was stabbed to death and her blood and the baby's blood smeared all over the walls. No human being should ever have to endure something that awful. Sorry Star, but if it doesn't fit, you need to quit.

[f091964]

there is black justice and there is white justice and all you white folks who think that is bull**** have no right whatsoever to act like you know what you're talking about because you ain't black and if you have black friends so what?

[coreyalt]

how does Star jones get away with saying something so racist? polanski's guilt is not in doubt since he pled guilty, It's france that has protected him all these years just as they would have for spike lee or any other rich liberal including star jones. France which by the way is the hollywood crowd's darling destination ( just look at all the stars that move or live there)

[womanofinsight]

To all the Hollywood Polanski supporters..such as Debra Winger, Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, etc.: You are mean people and like they say, mean people suck. Just because you're artists doesn't mean you don't also have an apetite for destruction. Nothing like violence against a 13 year old girl, huh? Does that make good art for you?
Is Polanski's story one of a great struggle by a man searching for justice, against the cruelty of time and space, as if he's the one being mistreated? No, I don't think so. Anyone who helps Polanski escape his punishment for druging and raping a child has aborted their own conscience. And Star Jones is right. It is Polanski's wealth and privlege, perhaps along with his race, which has made him a beloved pedophile attracting the most self-loving of all Hollywood cheerleaders. God forbid Woody Allen ever think about the implications of what raping a child does to her. No wait, I suggest he devote his next film to that story and cast Ms. Winger as the victim who endures life after the attack. Perhaps Scorsese could have a cameo as the hot-tub repairman who provides a safe house in his French uncle's castle for the oppressed male lead. Allen could call the film, "A Funny Thing Happened To Me On The Way To The Lifetime Achievement Award."

[philly0223]

What brand of Alpo is the nobody Star Jones smoking? Race has nothing to do with this, you jackass. Who cares what she thinks anyway? She's not exactly coming from an objective point of view.

And, folks, quit it with the faux morality. It's really sickening. Polanski is nothing more than a scapegoat whom you enjoy beating up. What he did was wrong, but what the late Laurence Rittenband did was even worse. Judicial misconduct is a serious issue and pieces of trash such as David Wells perjuring himself to the world is equally as serious.

How can an offense hold up if the process jused to convict the person was bogus from the door? Gotta look at yourselves in-depth, America, because it's not a pretty picture.

And if the VICTIM herself wants the charges dismissed, they should be. As for those who believe in the archaic and unworkable severe punishment b.s., YOU foot the extradition bill. Hope you've been saving up.

[Sarak50]

I disagree with Star re: the race issue. If Spike Lee had done such a thing to a 13 yr old African American girl, no body would have given a damn. so much for the regard our country had 30 years ago for the heal and welfare of young black girls. If the girl Roam Planski raped was African American, all hell would have broken lose; if Lee would have done the same to a white girl, the same would have happened.

[thgdriver]

Here we go again! Black folks quote of the day---"If he was black he would not have chilled in France for etc., etc. etc". Add sound of me throwing up here!! Most black folks are the first to see color and are far more prejudiced the any Klansman I ever heard of.

[mgmfos]

The hollywood idiots wanting him to skate ought to apply their logic to Bernie Madoff - he is old and depressed too

[averjane]

He's just an old dirty bird now tired and depressed. He won't last long in jail anyway. Poor devil. Hope your one moment of forbidden fruit was worth the fear you've lived with for the past 30 years. There's nothing that good in the world especially if it would cost jail time. It's the perverse hearts and minds of us all that gets us in the end. His sick mind has resulted in this legacy he will leave behind one day. What a waste!

[rceskr]

What's the argument here? HE RAPED A CHILD!

[pickaguitar1]

Free Polanski!

[r_mcdonald1]

There is no statute of limitations, and his crime was one that spoke to the lack of his care or concern for his fellow human beings. His was a crime of "me, myself and I". It was all about his need to have this young girl as a means of satisfying his sexual desires.

It was a crime of his power, over another human being by plying her with drugs and alcohol to achieve his desired result, his orgasm of power.

When faced with an amended sentencing he chose to run. He knew in his heart that he was wrong, he knows that what he did was wrong. By running he showed no remorse.

A cash settlement - that was with the victim, basically converting her to a prostitute. She, or her family, agreed to take money from the rapist.

Whether or not the victim has forgiven him is of no consequence. His actions were specific to avoid the sentence that was to be imposed after the agreement was made that he was, in fact and function, guilty of this rape and sodomization of this 13 year old child.

Now, this perverted human being will face his judgement - delayed by time, delayed by purpose, but still owed nonetheless.

[govtguy]

What the...? There is no argument that he did the crime(s); end result is that he does the time. Remember, he was the one that ran away and hid in Europe for 3 plus decades. If the case was no good, why did DoJ maintain an outstanding fugitive warrant on him if they weren't going to incarcerate him. Makes no difference if crime occurred yesterday, last week, or last year; he was found guilty, sentence was passed and he failed to appear. Throw away the key for the next 10 to 15 yrs and be done with it. His fans are obfuscating the circumstances, he did it, period.

[all4science]

....for all that he has done to the girl, he's really getting away with just poor health and depression.......

[poochie44]

Fair trial? Give me a break. He was convicted. He had his day in court. He should be locked up and the key should be thrown away. He doesn't deserve anymore trials.