Switzerland Refuses to Extradite Roman Polanski

Since director Roman Polanski was arrested in Switzerland in September 2009, U.S. authorities have been awaiting word on whether he would be extradited to the U.S. for sentencing on charges of unlawful sex following decades on the run. The news arrived early Monday morning in America: Swiss Justice Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf says Polanski is “a free man,” after Switzerland decided to deny the American extradition request. Polanski pleaded guilty in 1977 to the unlawful sex charge after originally being charged with other crimes, including rape and sodomy, against a 13-year-old girl. Here’s how people are taking the news that he’s off the hook–presumably for good.