Roman Polanski victim: Director is not a threat, prosecution should end

Samantha Geimer, who as a 13-year-old girl was at the center of the Roman Polanski sex case, called on prosecutors to halt the case against the famed director.

"Enough is enough. This matter should have been resolved 33 years ago," she said in an interview with The Times on Monday night.

Polanski had sex with Geimer at Jack Nicholson's home in 1977 -- sparking the epic case that appeared to end Monday when Swiss officials said they would not extradite the Oscar-winning director back to L.A. to face sentencing.

Geimer, who has in the past publicly forgiven Polanski, said she can't understand why prosecutors continue to pursue the director, maintaining that he's not a threat to anyone.

"At 76 years old? I don't think so."

She was forbidden from talking about the civil-suit settlement she and Polanski reached, but said that didn't influence her opinion that the case should have been ended years ago.

"People say I have ulterior motives," she said. "That doesn't make it true. I've felt this way from the beginning."

In Los Angeles and Washington, however, officials vowed to continue their pursuit of Polanski, though their options are now significantly limited.

“A 13-year-old girl was drugged and raped,” said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley. “This is not a matter of technicality.”

The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police said the U.S. had failed to turn over certain documents requested by the Swiss.

L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, who led the effort to bring Polanski back to the U.S., said he was dumbfounded by the decision. “Mr. Polanski is still convicted of serious child sex charges,” Cooley said. "The Swiss could not have found a smaller hook on which to hang their hat.”

-- Joe Mozingo

Photo: Samantha Geimer. Credit: Los Angeles Times

In Los Angeles and Washington, however, officials vowed to continue their pursuit of Polanski, though their options are now significantly limited.

“A 13-year-old girl was drugged and raped,” said State Department spokesman Philip Crowley. “This is not a matter of technicality.”

The Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police said the U.S. had failed to turn over certain documents requested by the Swiss.

L.A. County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley, who led the effort to bring Polanski back to the U.S., said he was dumbfounded by the decision. “Mr. Polanski is still convicted of serious child sex charges,” Cooley said. "The Swiss could not have found a smaller hook on which to hang their hat.”

-- Joe Mozingo

Photo: Samantha Geimer. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Arcadian]

Ohhh see she got paid! so she a prostitute at 13.
niiiice!
Forbidden to talk about the settlement. Its should have ended there after she gotten paid!
not like Polanski ever did it again!
Sheesh people, leave the man be, The So called Victim said she is done! The DA should back off, and stop wasting tax Payer Money on this charade!!

[s]

Samantha, Your beautiful and also forgiving. It seems to me you have put this incident behind you.Take care of yourself.

[Rick from Santa Barbara]

Terrible reporting job Joe Mozingo.

>>Polanski had sex with Geimer

How any adult with a brain can continue to downplay the horrific events that took place in 1977 is beyond my comprehension. I echo John from the Westside - read the transcript. And then call it what it was - a rape of a 13 year old child.

[MguyX]

It's not about Ms. Geimer. It's about punishing child sexual predation. It's about punishing flight from prosecution. If she's healed, that's great. But she should have some concern for all of the predator victims that Polanski's example serves to silence. If an Holocaust survivor forgave Mengele, it would not have pardoned his evil.

It was never about Ms. Geimer; it was always about advancing the reason that statutory rape and nonconsensual sex laws exist. And it later became about pursuit of a famously fleeing felon, whose ongoing flight gives further encourgement to law breakers everywhere.

[Kire Rred]

And what's the moral of the story, kids? Time heals all wounds, even for the most disgusting of crimes. Which means that, in the same way, we really should forgive all those Nazis left over from World War Two because, heck, they're old now, the world has changed and they can't hurt us anymore. What they did before? Whatever. It was in the past. The severity of a crime diminishes with distance --- an inspiring lesson to live by, thanks to Mr. Polanski.

[Julie]

Another one sells her soul. Sad.

[Nancy Hamilton]

Shame on this woman for making such an incredibly ignorant statement that he's not a threat to anyone because he's 76 years old!! This is not about his ability to get an erection, this is about his evil spirit that drives him to children to satisy his needs in whatever way he can. Maybe she has forgiven him, maybe she was paid to "forgive him," but whatever the case, do not assume that there are no more victims to be had because he's too old!! Selfish and ignorant woman.

[A H]

The fact of the matter is, why should he get off? So others can get off to?

No, he did something wrong and no matter how long it takes or took, he should pay the price.. LOCK HIM UP..

Is this the answer to give other little girls?

[Raymon Grantham]

How many more 13 and 14 year olds did he rape.

[huh?]

i believe this was retaliation for the u.s. busting the swiss' chops over taxes on "secret" swiss bank accounts. the u.s. really pushed the swiss hard on the issue. the swiss capitulated, but i'm sure they carry a bitter grudge. this was payback.

[A H]

How much are you getting paid to let him off the hook Samantha???

[Thomas Green]

When the laws against the abuse of our children become unimportant to another country, it is time to examine our relationship with that country. Of course, numerous countries have ignored Mr. Polanski's crime for years since it was in their economic interest to let him remain free. Hollywood is likewise part of the problem because the entertainment industry has continued to support his work all these years. Where is the justice?

[Brian W.]

"Polanski had sex with Geimer," Mr. Mozingo? Polanski RAPED Geimer, Mr. Mozingo. Shame on you.

[Tom M.]

Not her decision to make. She was paid off by this slime after he drugged and anally raped her...

[jschneiter]

Lets face it, this is the real face of hollywood and the DNC for that matter. It is ok to rape underage girls as long as you are a member of the club. It is ok to drowned a girl in your car if your in the club. That is what Liberal really is. Liberal in morals, liberal in virtue, liberal in integraty. I always laugh when a hollywood couple break up because of cheating.. or someone gets killed. What did you expect from someone with no morals? What did you expect when someone is an atheist? rape little girl.. no problem. as long as who ever did it is in Club Hollywood, or a socialist/communist. Scumbags.
keep sending your little girls to hollywood and Washington..

[Yes, Enough]

I wish this bimbo would shut up. She was granted a large settlement which makes the case even worse. She was raped and then paid for it. She has no right to decide the law. Polanski is a rapist. Period.

[Picard]

Whether or not she's forgiven him is not the issue. Whether or not she thinks he poses a danger is not an issue. The issue is that he had sex with a 13 year old girl.

[JK]

He is undeserving of mercy, but it is very gracious of her to forgive him. That said, justice and sentence are based on the crime, not the victim's opinion. If it was up to the victim to determine guilt and punishment, then there'd be no order at all.

[Frank]

I am glad so many spend so much money and effort on this case. I think it was the only case of rape in the United States that year. Keep up the fight!

[BaDaBoom]

HEY, STEVE COOLEY, SO YOU'RE "DUMBFOUNDED." REALLY? KNOW WHAT, STUPID, WE'RE DUMBFOUNDED BY YOU AND YOUR IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOR. YEAH, YOU AND MEL GIBSON. GET OVER IT.

[luvaboi007]

If it were an African American or Hispanic who had done this Hittius crime, they would have been hung 33 years ago, just goes to show you, that you can be a rich Jew and get away with drugging a 13 year old child and having your way with her.

Money does buy happiness, and freedom.

[Igor]

Her testimonial at a sentencing hearing could mitigate the sentence. So have him come to the sentencing hearing.

[Markus]

With all due respect, It's now in the state's hand and not in Ms.Geimer.

[tokyoglide]

I am continually astounded at the continued coverage of what Samantha Geimer thinks should or should not be done in connection with the prosecution of Roman Polanski -- what has clearly amounted to a travesty of justice. Further, how often public comments take into account her wishes or opinion reveals a staggering ignorance of our legal system.

There is a reason criminal cases are referred to as "The State vs. ____". The prosecutor is acting on behalf of the people; while cooperation and participation of the specific victim indeed bolsters a case, the status of victim is conferred upon society in general, as any crime -- and in particular violent crime -- is an attack on societal order. The State's first obligation is the protection of society, and the preservation of that order.

In many cases, and nearly certain in domestic violence and sexual abuse cases (like the one in question), the offender is known to the perpetrator and therefore the former may have strong disincentives to cooperate with the prosecution. In this manner the offender may, as here, escape justice. The practical result is the perception that the law is ineffectual, and this perception acts to encourage other potential perpetrators to believe that they, too, may evade the consequences of illegal and often violent acts. Thus, Geimer's assertions regarding whether Roman Polanski is dangerous are irrelevant, ignorant, and selfish; they have the potential to place other potential victims at greater peril.

[Craig]

So I can commit a crime run from the law and at some future time if my victim no longer thinks I a treat all is forgivin.

This guy should be looked up.

Send Dog the bounty huinter to bring him in