MJ's lawyer pledges 'vigorous defense
Tuesday, November 25, 2003




'Michael Jackson's attorney vowed to "land like a ton of bricks" on anyone who attacks the singer and charged that the molestation allegations against him were motivated by money, saying Jackson "is not going to be a pinata."

"If anybody doesn't think based upon what's happened so far that the true motivation of these charges and these allegations is anything but money and the seeking of money, is living in their own Neverland," attorney Mark Geragos said, referring to the singer's storybook playland.

Geragos' pledge to mount a vigorous defense against those who damage Jackson's reputation followed revelations that he and the entertainer were secretly videotaped while flying on a private jet to Santa Barbara last week for Jackson's surrender.

Geragos said he obtained a temporary court order barring anyone connected to the airline from showing the tapes.

"Michael Jackson is not going to be abused," Geragos said. "Michael Jackson is not going to be slammed, is not going to be a pinata."

Meanwhile, the Santa Barbara County district attorney pushed back the anticipated filing of molestation charges against Jackson to mid-December.

The delay will allow development of a Web site for public posting of court-related information in the case, District Attorney Thomas W. Sneddon said.

Sneddon had told a Nov. 19 news conference that charges would be filed "in a very short period of time." By week's end he announced that the charges would not be filed until after the Thanksgiving holiday.'

- This report was released by SFgate.com on 25 November and appears above verbatim.