But in arguing that Mr. Polanski should be absolved of culpability and allowed to put all this messy business behind him, that is precisely what Mr. Harris is proposing that we do.
This is not to absolve Oregon of culpability.
The decision not to vaccinate a child is ultimately the responsibility of the parent, but that doesn't absolve journalists of culpability for the impact their shoddy coverage may have had (or indeed Wakefield for his original 'research').
Let's put aside for a moment the profound absurdity of Trump invoking adversaries who want to "sow division and chaos," which is pretty much what the intelligence community concluded was Russia's aim in sabotaging our election, something that Trump continues to absolve Russia of culpability for to this day.
Mind you, that doesn't absolve them of culpability for their participation.
Without that HD footage circulating around social media within hours of Sammy's death, there would be more opportunity to discount the eyewitness reports, change up the truth, and perhaps absolve James Forcillo of culpability.
For his part, Trump again absolved Russia of culpability for the hack on Wednesday, though it is unclear if the intelligence briefings he attends include internal attributions of responsibility beyond the October statement.
Investigations could eventually absolve the airline of culpability in both incidents, but the outstanding questions surrounding Flight 370, which is believed to have crashed in the Pacific Ocean but whose wreckage has not been found, make it difficult for customers and others to regain trust.
They offered him 18,000 yuan, or $2,150, to sign a document that absolved the school of culpability.
When Postol raised concerns about how the report produced found no indications of misconduct, then-chair of Course 16 Edward F. Crawley '76 subsequently looked into the case, producing an interim draft that absolved the Lincoln Laboratory scientists of culpability.
The conclusions also absolved workers in Firestone plants of culpability for the tire failures, pinning any flaws in the tires themselves on the company's design and manufacturing processes.
