Posted on 08/03/2006 8:35:10 PM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
LOS ANGELES - The movie that could be the most important of Mel Gibson's career is one that may never be released if the actor and law enforcement authorities prevail.
But at least one media outlet is seeking access immediately to the potentially explosive video and audio of Gibson's drunken driving arrest.
The visual and audio record could add fuel to the controversy over Gibson's anti-Semitic tirade at a deputy who pulled him over and his self-described belligerent behavior toward deputies when he was brought to a sheriff's station in the early morning hours of July 28.
TMZ, an Internet celebrity news site which first released leaked sections of Gibson's booking report, maintains the tapes should be seen and heard by the public to assess whether the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department gave Gibson preferential treatment.
"We want the tapes not just because of Mel Gibson but because the tape puts the conduct of the Sheriff's Department in context," said Harvey Levin, head of TMZ. He said he had learned that the deputy who arrested Gibson radioed ahead to the station that someone should be prepared to videotape the scene because of Gibson's behavior.
"From what I understand, the deputies were very excited because Mr. Gibson was there," Levin said Thursday. "The tape may show them gathering around to peer at him."
Los Angeles' leading First Amendment lawyers said it will be an uphill battle to obtain the tapes before the case is resolved.
Attorney Douglas Mirell predicted authorities would invoke the investigative records exemption to the California Public Records Act, which is the single most litigated exemption...."
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Weird. I hadn't heard the cop was Jewish anywhere.
Not on FR
After 6 days you STILL hadn't heard he was Jewish??? The cop came out only two days ago...maybe it was yesterday even, and said he was Jewish....I thought that was VERY strange that it hadn't been mentioned before...makes me go...hmmmmmmm.
Even if Mel muttered some crap while he was in his drunken stupor, it still doesn't warrant the amount of media "fluffing" (a term from the porn industry) given the incident.
One has to read between the lines and ask what media wants to achieve. Lord knows, the Kennedy crashes, (2 times in a week) was a much bigger story, with much more "covering up" than this Gibson incident, yet it didn't raise any eyebrows at the NYT's. No biased "journalism" (if you can call what's written on that waste of forrest products that) there, no sir.
What does "hmmmmmmm" mean?
The cop's name is Mee.
You are kidding....right??
One has to read between the lines and ask what media wants to achieve...
Uh, he's a movie star -- actually, the richest actor in the history of show biz -- and a formal sex symbol involved in a scandal. They hope to sell papers and advertising.
Not kidding. Please, what does "hmmmmmmm" mean?
"I wonder........."
Do you know what "hmmmmmmm" means?
Since when does the public have "the right to know" when a private citizen makes a fool of himself?
This is ridiculous.
I expect the ACLU to be all over this case any day now, insisting that Mel is entitled to his opinions etc. /s
I just explained it.
"Most important movie"
Is this author trying to get nominated for dumbest lump of flesh to ever sucessfully peck at typewriter keys?
Now you've got it!
LOL!! Isn't that his name??
I watched this guy on a couple of the news/entertainment shows tonight. He's slime.
Or anyone talking about it in the news either.
I think it goes a little deeper than that. I think Media is trying to cause bad feeling between the Jewish and Christian communities, in hopes of reducing support for Israel's defensive actions against their terrorist pals. Civil unrest sells papers and advertizing too, but I think certain media are motivated for other reasons. It all works into their anti Bush, anti war, political agenda. It may only be in a small way, but it all adds up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.