French Government Defends Roman Polanski, Will Fight Extradition

France seems to have had just about enough of the United States' system of justice and they are not hiding their feelings publicly. Both the French Culture Minister and the Foreign Minister have spoken out in defense of Roman Polanski, who has lived quietly with French and Polish citizenship in Europe since fleeing there in 1978. Polanski had pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and was awaiting sentencing when he left the country.

Obviously, that's going to rile the U.S. justice system just a bit. Especially when his final destination was France, which does not extradite its citizens. So for the last 30 years, authorities in the U.S. have tried with various levels of exertion to have Polanski returned to the states to be sentenced for his crime.

Complicating matters significantly is that fact that the 13-year-old girl with whom he had unlawful intercourse also wants Polanski to be left alone. She had reached a monetary settlement with Polanski years ago and now prefers that the case be put to rest so that she can move on with her life without having to re-live the trauma.

Of course, the French and Polanski's supporters can't understand why a 30-year-old crime would have any relevance at all. Under French law, the statute of limitations for such an offense would have long since expired. Now that matter has become one of international posturing, with the French coming quickly to the defense of a man that they revere as a great theatrical artist and an honorable citizen. According to U.S. justice officials, however, Polanski is nothing more than a fugitive on the lam.