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This may be Jeffery Toobin’s best book yet, an engrossing and brilliantly told account of Patty Hearst, a teenager raised in wealth and privilege who was kidnapped in 1974 by a ragtag and disorganised band of “revolutionaries” who called themselves the Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA). About a month later, the SLA held up a bank and Patty Hearst was seen on security video holding a gun and threatening bank personnel along with her fellow SLA robbers. Audio tapes were released in which Patty railed against the government, law enforcement, and her parents, and she declared her allegiance to the SLA.
After some 18 months as a fugitive, she was finally apprehended in 1975 and put on trial for armed robbery. She claimed she was coerced and intimidated and maybe even brainwashed (although that term was not used at trial) into going along with the SLA’s crimes.
Toobin is understated in his conclusions; he lets the evidence speak for itself---and the evidence is clear and convincing: Patty Hearst was an enthusiastic and whole-hearted participant in the offenses of the SLA. The jury in her eight-week trial in 1976 reached the same conclusion, taking less than a day to convict her of armed robbery, for which she was sentenced to seven years. Yet Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence after only 21 months. Then Bill Clinton gave her a presidential pardon in 2001, despite Patty Hearst never admitting her role or taking responsibility for her actions.
On the latter developments, Toobin is scathing: “[R]arely have the benefits of wealth, power and renown been as clear as they were in the aftermath of Patricia’s conviction”.
It has become increasingly clear that far too many of the rich and powerful in America view themselves as above the law. The rules only apply to the little people, not to them. Patty Hearst is one more example of the corruption wrought by excessive wealth and power.
After some 18 months as a fugitive, she was finally apprehended in 1975 and put on trial for armed robbery. She claimed she was coerced and intimidated and maybe even brainwashed (although that term was not used at trial) into going along with the SLA’s crimes.
Toobin is understated in his conclusions; he lets the evidence speak for itself---and the evidence is clear and convincing: Patty Hearst was an enthusiastic and whole-hearted participant in the offenses of the SLA. The jury in her eight-week trial in 1976 reached the same conclusion, taking less than a day to convict her of armed robbery, for which she was sentenced to seven years. Yet Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence after only 21 months. Then Bill Clinton gave her a presidential pardon in 2001, despite Patty Hearst never admitting her role or taking responsibility for her actions.
On the latter developments, Toobin is scathing: “[R]arely have the benefits of wealth, power and renown been as clear as they were in the aftermath of Patricia’s conviction”.
It has become increasingly clear that far too many of the rich and powerful in America view themselves as above the law. The rules only apply to the little people, not to them. Patty Hearst is one more example of the corruption wrought by excessive wealth and power.