On December 30, 2015, the long-building allegations against Bill Cosby reached a critical turning point as Pennsylvania prosecutors formally charged the 78-year-old comedian with sexual assault. The case centers on a 2004 encounter at Cosby’s home, where he allegedly drugged and assaulted former Temple University employee Andrea Constand.
“The evidence is strong and sufficient to proceed,” announced Montgomery County District Attorney-elect Kevin Steele, emphasizing that a victim under the influence of drugs “cannot give consent.”
Cosby’s legal team launched an immediate counteroffensive. Attorney Monique Pressley declared, “Make no mistake, we intend to mount a vigorous defense against this unjustified charge and we expect that Mr. Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law.”
Constand’s case is far from isolated—over 50 women have publicly shared similar accounts of being drugged and assaulted by the veteran entertainer. However, under state evidence laws, whether these secondary accusers will be permitted to testify remains up to the trial judge’s discretion.
Once revered as “America’s Dad,” Cosby now stands at the center of a national conversation surrounding power, race, accountability, and the systemic challenges faced by survivors of sexual violence.
BILL COSBY’S LAWYER INTERVIEW
Monique Pressley (Twitter: @MoniquePressley) the Attorney representing Bill Cosby spoke with Marc Lamont Hill (Twitter: @marclamonthill), on HuffPost Live this past July, in the following candid interview that is just as relevant today.
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