Bill Cosby isn’t typically one to play the race card to excuse his own — and other’s— personal failures. But his lawyers aren’t as impartial, it seems.
Cosby’s legal team suggested for the first time on Tuesday that “racial bias” and “prejudice” were to blame for his public crucifixion and the slew of sexual assault allegations raised against the disgraced 79-year-old comedian, as he faces trial for allegedly drugging and molesting Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his house in 2004, the AP reported.
While more than 50 women have accused Bill Cosby of assaulting them over the last few years, the former actor is only being charged for a single night of sexual violence, related to Constand’s visit to his suburban Philadelphia home, in the upcoming criminal trial. A large number of his accusers, including Constand, are white.
The statement — made on the steps of a Philadelphia courthouse after a preliminary hearing — directly targeted civil rights lawyer Gloria Allred (famed for her high profile cases involving women rights), who represents the majority of women who will give testimony against Cosby.
Ms. Allred “calls herself a civil rights attorney, but her campaign against Mr. Cosby builds on racial bias and prejudice that can pollute the court of public opinion. And when the media repeats her accusations — with no evidence, no trial and no jury — we are moved backwards as a country and away from the America that our civil rights leaders sacrificed so much to create” one of his lawyers, Brian McMonagle, told reporters.
“Mr. Cosby is no stranger to discrimination and racial hatred,” he said.
In a statement provided to ABC News, Allred fired back, calling the tactic “desperate.”
“He complains about racial bias but what about the African American women whom I represent who accuse him of sexual assault or rape and who refuse to remain silent about what they say they have suffered?” she said.
Cosby’s trial is slated for June 2017. He faces three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault and could spend up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
Whether his lawyers intend to bring up race during his defense is unclear.