checkered past
予言者マホメドを扱った映画を制作した人間を特定する作業が続いています。
checkered pastは面白い表現です。checkeredといえば、まずはモーターレースのゴールで振られる旗をイメージすると思います。これは「格子縞の、色とりどりの」という意味ですね。ところがこの単語には「波瀾万丈の、浮いたり沈んだりの」という意味もあるのです。これは色とりどりのという意味からきたものでしょう。テレビ番組にそういうタイトルのものがありましたね。（GP）
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal authorities have identified a Coptic Christian in southern California who is on probation after his conviction for financial crimes as the key figure behind the anti-Muslim film that ignited mob violence against U.S. embassies across the Mideast, a U.S. law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation, said Nakoula was connected to the persona of Sam Bacile, a man who initially told the AP he was the film's writer and director. But Bacile turned out to be a false identity, and the AP traced a cellphone number Bacile used to a southern California house where it located and interviewed Nakoula.
Bacile initially told AP he was Jewish and Israeli, although Israeli officials said they had no records of such a citizen. Others involved in the film said his statements were contrived, as evidence mounted that the film's key player was a Coptic Christian with a checkered past.
Nakoula told the AP in an interview outside Los Angeles on Wednesday that he managed logistics for the company that produced the film. Nakoula denied he was Bacile and said he did not direct the film, though he said he knew Bacile.
