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| Bill Cosby: bail set at $1m during court appearance for sexual assault charges | Bill Cosby: bail set at $1m during court appearance for sexual assault charges |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Bill Cosby, the comedian and entertainer once known as “America’s dad”, appeared in court to face his first criminal charge for sexual misconduct on Wednesday, for an incident in which he allegedly drugged and violated a woman who considered him to be her mentor. | Bill Cosby, the comedian and entertainer once known as “America’s dad”, appeared in court to face his first criminal charge for sexual misconduct on Wednesday, for an incident in which he allegedly drugged and violated a woman who considered him to be her mentor. |
| Related: Bill Cosby will finally face charges. There's no guarantee he'll face justice | Jessica Valenti | Related: Bill Cosby will finally face charges. There's no guarantee he'll face justice | Jessica Valenti |
| In a hearing lasting less than 10 minutes, Judge Elizabeth McHugh read out the three second-degree felony charges of aggravated indecent assault. He did not appear visibly moved; when asked if he understood the charges, he replied simply: “Yes.” | In a hearing lasting less than 10 minutes, Judge Elizabeth McHugh read out the three second-degree felony charges of aggravated indecent assault. He did not appear visibly moved; when asked if he understood the charges, he replied simply: “Yes.” |
| Bail was set at $1m, of which Cosby will have to pay 10% on Wednesday. Cosby faces up to 10 years in prison for each charge. | Bail was set at $1m, of which Cosby will have to pay 10% on Wednesday. Cosby faces up to 10 years in prison for each charge. |
| Cosby, 78, arrived at the Montgomery County district courthouse wearing a black and white cardigan and walking with a cane. He declined to answer questions. From the courthouse, he was transferred to Cheltenham police station for processing. | Cosby, 78, arrived at the Montgomery County district courthouse wearing a black and white cardigan and walking with a cane. He declined to answer questions. From the courthouse, he was transferred to Cheltenham police station for processing. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, Pennsylvania prosecutors had issued an arrest warrant for Cosby, 78, over an incident that happened more than a decade ago. | Earlier on Wednesday, Pennsylvania prosecutors had issued an arrest warrant for Cosby, 78, over an incident that happened more than a decade ago. |
| Kevin Steele, Montgomery County’s first assistant district attorney, said the victim was penetrated without her consent while she was impaired. “There is not a question in terms of pills being provided to her, there’s not a question as to what went on, of the digital penetration,” Steele said. | Kevin Steele, Montgomery County’s first assistant district attorney, said the victim was penetrated without her consent while she was impaired. “There is not a question in terms of pills being provided to her, there’s not a question as to what went on, of the digital penetration,” Steele said. |
| Andrea Constand, who first brought charges against Cosby in 2005, was named as the victim in the affidavit. | Andrea Constand, who first brought charges against Cosby in 2005, was named as the victim in the affidavit. |
| She had met Cosby through her work at Temple University in Philadelphia and had “what the victim believed to be a sincere friendship”, according to the affidavit filed on Wednesday. | She had met Cosby through her work at Temple University in Philadelphia and had “what the victim believed to be a sincere friendship”, according to the affidavit filed on Wednesday. |
| By the time their relationship began, Cosby was an American icon, celebrated for his role as Dr Cliff Huxtable in the beloved 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show. Along with being a top-rated, award-winning program, the show was heralded for its groundbreaking depiction of a well-to-do black family. | By the time their relationship began, Cosby was an American icon, celebrated for his role as Dr Cliff Huxtable in the beloved 1980s sitcom The Cosby Show. Along with being a top-rated, award-winning program, the show was heralded for its groundbreaking depiction of a well-to-do black family. |
| Republican strategist Karl Rove had even claimed on election night 2008 that Cosby had changed racial attitudes in the US so significantly that it paved the way for Barack Obama’s presidency. “It was America’s family,” Rove said of the Cosbys. | Republican strategist Karl Rove had even claimed on election night 2008 that Cosby had changed racial attitudes in the US so significantly that it paved the way for Barack Obama’s presidency. “It was America’s family,” Rove said of the Cosbys. |
| The so-called Huxtable effect is often disputed, but Cosby told the New York Times in 2008 that his show definitely had an enduring effect on racial views in the US. | The so-called Huxtable effect is often disputed, but Cosby told the New York Times in 2008 that his show definitely had an enduring effect on racial views in the US. |
| “I would not be surprised with the comfort level of people looking at a family and not being afraid of them, and not holding them to some strange old thoughts of a nation,” Cosby told the New York Times in November 2008. “It’s what people have done with themselves by watching that show and believing in it.” | “I would not be surprised with the comfort level of people looking at a family and not being afraid of them, and not holding them to some strange old thoughts of a nation,” Cosby told the New York Times in November 2008. “It’s what people have done with themselves by watching that show and believing in it.” |
| But dozens of women have since publicly claimed that for decades, Cosby was drugging and violating women. Constand is the first to have these allegations officially supported by a law enforcement body. | But dozens of women have since publicly claimed that for decades, Cosby was drugging and violating women. Constand is the first to have these allegations officially supported by a law enforcement body. |
| In a press conference on Wednesday, Gloria Allred, the attorney representing 28 of the women who allege they have been victims of Cosby, said it “was a very good sign” that Steele’s office felt the case against Cosby was strong enough to meet the standard of proof required. | In a press conference on Wednesday, Gloria Allred, the attorney representing 28 of the women who allege they have been victims of Cosby, said it “was a very good sign” that Steele’s office felt the case against Cosby was strong enough to meet the standard of proof required. |
| “For many of my clients,” Allred said, seeing him be charged “was the best Christmas present they have ever received.” | “For many of my clients,” Allred said, seeing him be charged “was the best Christmas present they have ever received.” |
| “I’m very happy that [Constand’s] case has received new and close scrutiny,” Allred said. “I know that many of my clients would be willing to testify and we look forward to a just result.” | “I’m very happy that [Constand’s] case has received new and close scrutiny,” Allred said. “I know that many of my clients would be willing to testify and we look forward to a just result.” |
| In a statement late on Wednesday, Cosby’s attorney, Monique Pressley, said a sexual assault charge was “unjustified”. | |
| “Mr Cosby will be exonerated by a court of law” following a vigorous defense, she said, adding that the charge by the Montgomery County district attorney’s office in Pennsylvania came as no surprise. | |
| In the affidavit, Constand said that Cosby made two sexual advances towards her while she was at his home. The third time he made advances, she was under the influence of three pills and wine. Investigators have not been able to determine what type of pills she had consumed. | In the affidavit, Constand said that Cosby made two sexual advances towards her while she was at his home. The third time he made advances, she was under the influence of three pills and wine. Investigators have not been able to determine what type of pills she had consumed. |
| But Constand, who had told Cosby she was stressed and missing sleep, believed they were herbal pills. Shortly after taking them, she became dizzy and nauseous, yet was aware that Cosby was fondling her and penetrating her with his fingers. She told investigators that she felt “frozen and paralyzed”. | But Constand, who had told Cosby she was stressed and missing sleep, believed they were herbal pills. Shortly after taking them, she became dizzy and nauseous, yet was aware that Cosby was fondling her and penetrating her with his fingers. She told investigators that she felt “frozen and paralyzed”. |
| After the incident, Constand moved back to her native Canada, where she still lives, and left her job with Temple’s women’s basketball team. | After the incident, Constand moved back to her native Canada, where she still lives, and left her job with Temple’s women’s basketball team. |
| In January 2005, she filed a complaint against Cosby in Ontario. That was followed by a criminal investigation in Montgomery County. Then district attorney Bruce Castor announced in February that the office would not press charges against Cosby. | In January 2005, she filed a complaint against Cosby in Ontario. That was followed by a criminal investigation in Montgomery County. Then district attorney Bruce Castor announced in February that the office would not press charges against Cosby. |
| “I thought, in my gut, that she was telling the truth,” Castor told the Washington Post last year. “I was absolutely certain that she believed that Cosby had taken advantage of her, but there were not enough details.” | “I thought, in my gut, that she was telling the truth,” Castor told the Washington Post last year. “I was absolutely certain that she believed that Cosby had taken advantage of her, but there were not enough details.” |
| Constand filed a civil suit in March 2005, which eventually included 13 other women who testified as Jane Does. Constand’s attorneys said in the court filings that the women “were victimized after being conned by the Cosby image”. | Constand filed a civil suit in March 2005, which eventually included 13 other women who testified as Jane Does. Constand’s attorneys said in the court filings that the women “were victimized after being conned by the Cosby image”. |
| She settled her suit against Cosby in 2006. | She settled her suit against Cosby in 2006. |
| These allegations and others failed to gain widespread attention until a video of comedian Hannibal Buress calling Cosby a hypocrite and a rapist during a performance went viral in October 2014. | These allegations and others failed to gain widespread attention until a video of comedian Hannibal Buress calling Cosby a hypocrite and a rapist during a performance went viral in October 2014. |
| Since then, more than 50 women have come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against Cosby. Sex abuse lawsuits have also been filed against him in Boston and Los Angeles. | Since then, more than 50 women have come forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against Cosby. Sex abuse lawsuits have also been filed against him in Boston and Los Angeles. |
| In Cosby’s deposition in the Constand case, he admitted to obtaining quaaludes with the intent of giving them to women he wanted to have sex with, but the court documents revealing that information were not made public until July. | In Cosby’s deposition in the Constand case, he admitted to obtaining quaaludes with the intent of giving them to women he wanted to have sex with, but the court documents revealing that information were not made public until July. |
| The judge who unsealed the deposition in July argued that because Cosby was seen as a “public moralist”, his statements met the public interest standard for being released. | The judge who unsealed the deposition in July argued that because Cosby was seen as a “public moralist”, his statements met the public interest standard for being released. |
| Pennsylvania prosecutors reopened the case over the summer when this damaging testimony was unsealed and as dozens of other women came forward with similar accusations. | Pennsylvania prosecutors reopened the case over the summer when this damaging testimony was unsealed and as dozens of other women came forward with similar accusations. |
| Related: Janice Dickinson on Bill Cosby: ‘They can fling all they want at me. I did not consent.’ | Related: Janice Dickinson on Bill Cosby: ‘They can fling all they want at me. I did not consent.’ |
| “Reopening this case was our duty as law enforcement officers,” Steele said at a short press conference on Wednesday. | “Reopening this case was our duty as law enforcement officers,” Steele said at a short press conference on Wednesday. |
| Constand was interviewed again after the investigation was reopened, according to the affidavit. | Constand was interviewed again after the investigation was reopened, according to the affidavit. |
| So was her mother, Gianna Constand, who told investigators that in her initial confrontation with Cosby over the telephone, she had told him: “You are a very sick man.” She said Cosby had agreed and repeatedly apologized. | So was her mother, Gianna Constand, who told investigators that in her initial confrontation with Cosby over the telephone, she had told him: “You are a very sick man.” She said Cosby had agreed and repeatedly apologized. |
| Her daughter did not ask for the criminal investigation to be reopened but agreed to cooperate with investigators if necessary. | Her daughter did not ask for the criminal investigation to be reopened but agreed to cooperate with investigators if necessary. |
| The charges come just before the statute of limitations was set to expire for the case. For many of the other women who have made similar claims against Cosby, the statute of limitations had already expired. | The charges come just before the statute of limitations was set to expire for the case. For many of the other women who have made similar claims against Cosby, the statute of limitations had already expired. |
| After the charges were announced, Constand’s attorney, Dolores Troiani, released a statement, expressing her “utmost confidence” in Steele and his team. | After the charges were announced, Constand’s attorney, Dolores Troiani, released a statement, expressing her “utmost confidence” in Steele and his team. |
| “On behalf of our client, Andrea Constand, we wish to express our appreciation to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the County Detectives and the Cheltenham Police Department for the consideration and courtesy they have shown Andrea during this difficult time,” the statement said. “We have the utmost confidence in Mr Steele, Ms Feden and their team, who have impressed us with their professionalism.” | “On behalf of our client, Andrea Constand, we wish to express our appreciation to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, the County Detectives and the Cheltenham Police Department for the consideration and courtesy they have shown Andrea during this difficult time,” the statement said. “We have the utmost confidence in Mr Steele, Ms Feden and their team, who have impressed us with their professionalism.” |