Not the Popular View but . . . : Innocent until proven guilty, Harding should skate

Unlike some of her predecessors, who often seemed as graceful off the ice as on, figure skater Tonya Harding is not about to become America’s sweetheart.

Harding, 23, had a tough childhood and grew up as adept at fixing cars as soaring above the ice. She proclaimed herself a woman of “rough edges” this week as she begged to be allowed to compete next month in the winter Olympics in Norway, despite the swirl about her.

Her protestation of innocence is likely to be sorely tested. On Friday, “NBC Nightly News” reported that Harding’s ex-husband repeatedly told FBI investigators that the skater was in on the plot to assault her chief rival, Nancy Kerrigan, and that she gave final approval to the attack. If that is true, then Harding should not only be barred from the Olympics but should be punished fully under the law.

However, it is far from proven that she is guilty. Indeed, her main accuser--ex-husband Jeff Gillooly--reportedly will be allowed to plead to only one count of racketeering in the case. In other words, he appears to have cut a deal with prosecutors.

It is true that the American belief that one is innocent until proven guilty is required only in court, of course. However, it’s a good principle to apply in this case as well: It is the reason that Harding should be allowed to compete.

The only persons who have been arrested in the assault on Kerrigan Jan. 6 are Gillooly, Harding’s former bodyguard and two other men. The attack, in which a man clubbed Kerrigan on the knee, was allegedly intended to disable the skater; it succeeded but apparently will not keep her out of Olympic competition.

Harding insists she did not know of the Kerrigan attack in advance, though she has acknowledged learning about it afterward. She clearly erred in not telling authorities. Still, Harding has not been formally accused of any crime. Let her skate.