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
EDITOR'S PICKS:
I don't see what the big deal is. The victim forgave him, let it go...
James P. Saxton, Citrus Heights, California
Posted by: James | July 13, 2010 at 03:35 PM
Geimer is absolutely right. As in a Baroque painting, the issue at had is an instance of 'trompe l'oeil', in which the centre of focus is not the real centre. The centre of true focus is not Polanski; it is Cooley, the District Attorney, trying to score points nailing a celebrity. A rightist, Cooley, who, by now, has managed to alienate Hispanics and Blacks with his egregious prosecutorial initiatives, entertains greater political ambitions. American authorities had plenty of time, more than thirty years, to get hold of Polanski, and they chose to wait until last year. They did not show due diligence. By now, the whole issue is otiose. I applaud the Swiss for not bending to American demands. Switzerland is not an overseas province of the US Empire, even less of Cooley's Office.
Posted by: Marc A. Loera | July 13, 2010 at 03:54 PM
I really wish Samantha Geimer had gotten some counseling after she was raped, or if she did, she should sue her doctor. I understand that she doesn't want this case to drag on because she doesn't want to be reminded. However its not all about her, its about the law and its about the fact that this case is in the spotlight and how its handled may well influence how other cases are handled and influence the zeal with which rape cases are brought tojustice for others. I think anyone who has been raped (as I have been) would want law enforcement and the D.A.'s office to do all that was in their power to bring their rapist to justice. That to me spells great comfort to the victims and reinforces the seriousness of this crime in a society that still doesnt take it seriously enough, and where there are many people who still blame the victim. Mrs. Geimer does well to forgive Polanski for what he did, but Mrs. Geimer, are you aware that Polanski, from the time he fled the U.S. until today, denies that what happened between you and he was a rape and insists you willingly participated in all of it? He then, is saying your grand jury testimony was a lie --he is and has been calling you a liar to this day. He even contends it was all consensual in his autobiography. That means that he is in fact an UNrepentant rapist. Such people ARE dangerous and should be pursued. Mrs. Geimer, why do you continue to cheerlead for him --to this day he calls you a liar! In the past you went to the media to urge that he be allowed to win an Academy Award! You are behaving like a woman who has been abused by a spouse, who lets the memory fade and forgives the abuse but as one who has not really opened her eyes to the fact that the person has NOT changed. This is the pattern of women who are abused and return to their abusers only to have it happen again. I hope you will ask yourself if you have really dealt with this matter emotionally. By your continued insistence that this man should not have to answer to the laws of the state of California in regards to standing to stand and be legally sentenced you are undermining and pooh-poohing the hard work the DA's office is doing to bring this matter to a legal end. You are not helping the cause of other rape victims who want to see their rapist brought to justice. Please take a look at the larger picture.
Posted by: Prisca H | July 13, 2010 at 04:38 PM
Geimer is right. The real centre of focus is not Polanski, it is Cooley, the District Attorney. He is trying to score points to advance his career by nailing a celebrity. Cooley entertains higher political ambitions. American authorities had plenty of time, more than thirty years, to get hold of Polanski, and they chose to wait until last year. They did not show due diligence. By now, the whole issue is otiose. The Swiss merit applause for not bending to American demands. Switzerland is not an overseas province of the US Empire, or a sub-department to Cooley's Office.
Posted by: Marc A. Loera | July 13, 2010 at 08:34 PM
This woman is clueless: This case is not about her or Polanksi it is about the law.
Both she and Polanksi have agreed to what happened; an adult man intimidated a young 13 year old girl into having sex. Polanksi could have finished this crime up 33 years ago if he didn't commit anther crime by leaving the country to go hide.
Perhaps if this had happened between her and an unemployed black man who didn't have a chance of paying the $750k law suite she won against Polanski 15 some odd hears ago she might be making other statements.
Posted by: Xriz | July 13, 2010 at 09:44 PM
"Polanski had sex with Geimer at Jack Nicholson's home in 1977"
Polanski did NOT have sex with Geimer. He RAPED her. He drugged and raped a 13 year old girl. The man needs to be brought back to face justice.
Mel Gibson hasn't even been charged with anything and his career is over. Polanski was convicted and is Hollywood's darling. Someone else see something wrong with that?
Posted by: Dustin from Minnesota | August 01, 2010 at 11:36 AM
A molester with money is still a molester.
Posted by: lucy goosey | August 01, 2010 at 01:13 PM
Roman Polanski is guilty of child molestation and he gets all of these actors,producers,writers,and directors sticking out their necks for him and he's guilty
Michael Jackson was innocent and look at what happened to him nobody stood by him where is the justice in that?I know why it's because Michael is a black man and how dare he be so rich , famous,talented,and so loved around the world.
and why isn't the media attacking Roman Polanski,? like they attacked an innocent black man, that was proven not guilty in a court of law and a white jury of his peers where is the justice in that them things that he did to that little girl
and he screwed town for 30+ years and Michael turned himself in for his to get
police brutality and medialoid brutality that just is not right the media hounded Michael Jackson to death and this child molester gets a free pass he's a repeat offender and should be in prison for 20 years or more for skipping town.
Posted by: Debra N | October 06, 2010 at 11:59 PM