Update!

Die Hard Director Wants to Live Free, Reverses Plea

John McTiernan now pleads not guilty to lying to FBI in connection to Anthony Pellicano investigation

By Josh Grossberg Apr 27, 2009 7:15 PMTags
John McTiernanAP Photo/Nick Ut

UPDATE: In a surprising about-face, McTiernan pleaded guilty on July 12, 2010, to lying to federal agents and a federal judge, a day before he was scheduled to go to trial after successfully withdrawing his previous guilty plea. Sentencing is set for Oct. 4.
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John McTiernan was guilty. Now he's not.

The Die Hard helmer pleaded not guilty today to two counts of making false statements to federal agents and one count of perjury in connection with the Anthony Pellicano wiretapping and racketeering case.

McTiernan, 58, is accused of fibbing to the FBI and a federal judge about his knowledge of the celebrity private investigator's penchant to illegally eavesdrop on behalf of his rich and famous clients.

The director, whose blockbuster credits also include Predator and The Hunt for Red October, initially pleaded guilty in 2006 to similar charges. But after being sentenced to four months behind bars, McTiernan did an about-face and asked to withdraw his plea.

A federal appeals court approved the do-over and vacated the sentence. But prosecutors indicted him for the second time earlier this month, so it'll be up to a jury to determine whether the filmmaker gets his own Hollywood ending.


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