Old news now, but The View’s Whoopi Goldberg on why the Hollywood elite wants director and rapist Roman Polanski to be set free:

“I know it wasn’t ‘rape’ rape. I think it was something else, but I don’t believe it was ‘rape’ rape,” said Goldberg, dismissing the possibility that Polanski had forced himself on anyone.

“He pled guilty to having sex with a minor and he went to jail, and when they let him out (on bail, pending sentencing), he said, ‘You know what, this guy’s going to give me 100 years in jail. I’m not staying.’ And that’s why he left.

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Here’s exactly what Whoopi is talking about: In March 1977, the 44-year-old Polanski fed a 13-year-old girl champagne and a sedative, forced himself on her and anally raped her, according to the girl’s grand jury testimony. He was convicted of a lesser charge — statutory rape — because he agreed to plead guilty.

Stay classy, Hollywood.