NORRISTOWN, Pa. — Bill Cosby’s defense attorney today attacked women who have said they were sexually assaulted by the comedian, saying there’s “a disturbing pattern in terms of the timing of these accusations.”
Wednesday afternoon in a Montgomery County courtroom, Cosby’s defense team argued that Judge Steven T. O’Neill should meet with each of 13 women prosecutors want to testify that Cosby sexually assaulted them. In December, attorneys on both sides of the sexual assault case will argue if those 13 women are allowed to testify at Cosby’s trial at all. O’Neill didn’t rule on any of the pre-trial issues today.
But this afternoon, Cosby’s lead defense attorney Brian McMonagle attempted to poke holes in the credibility of the women who have agreed to testify against Cosby, saying 10 of them only came forward after being approached by women’s right’s attorney Gloria Allred.
He also said other victims shouldn’t be allowed to testify against Cosby, as their testimony doesn’t show a pattern of sexual violence.
“There is a pattern,” he said. “A disturbing pattern in terms of the timing of these accusations. A disturbing pattern in terms of the coincidence of representation of some of these accusers.”
Allred, who has been present in the courtroom over the last two days, said Tuesday that she doesn’t represent 10 of the 13 women who prosecutors intend to call, but she wouldn’t confirm exactly how many of those accusers she does represent.
Prosecutors in the case argued the judge didn’t need to meet with Cosby’s accusers prior to trial as Cosby’s attorneys will have the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses at trial.
District Attorney Kevin Steele said the 13 women who have agreed to testify will establish a pattern of sexual violence perpetrated by Cosby that includes cultivating a close relationship with younger women then drugging and sexually assaulting them.
He argued holding hearings between the judge and each of the alleged victims is part of “longstanding intimidation” attempts by the defense.
Cosby is facing charges of aggravated indecent assault in connection with a 2004 incident at Cosby’s home in Cheltenham, Pa. Former Temple University employee Andrea Constand told authorities Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her. The charges in Montgomery County are the only charges Cosby faces.
