Cooley reacts to Polanski decision

In a statement this afternoon on Switzerland's decision to release Roman Polanski rather than send him back to Los Angeles, District Attorney Steve Cooley says:

I am deeply disappointed that the Swiss authorities denied the request to extradite Roman Polanski. Our office complied fully with all of the factual and legal requirements of the extradition treaty and requests by the U.S. and Swiss Departments of Justice and State. We will discuss with the Department of Justice the extradition of Roman Polanski if he’s arrested in a cooperative jurisdiction.

State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said: “A 13-year-old girl was drugged and raped. This is not a matter of technicality. To push this case aside based on technicalities we think is regrettable …. We think it sends a very important message regarding how ... women and girls are treated around the world."

This morning on LA Observed: Polanski freed by Switzerland