Bill Cosby is thanking his supporters following his formal arraignment on one charge of aggravated indecent assault on Wednesday.
The 78-year-old comedian took to Twitter with a simple message on Thursday. “Friends and fans, Thank You,” he wrote.
The tweet marks the first time Cosby has spoken out since he’s been charged. Previously, he had retweeted a video about his countersuit against several of his accusers for defamation on Dec. 15. Cosby is being accused of drugging and violating former Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his mansion in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania in January 2004. On Wednesday, his bail was set at $1 million with additional conditions of surrendering his passport and having no contact with the alleged victim. He posted $100,000 (10 percent of the bail, as required), and was released.
This marks the first criminal charge brought against Cosby after more than 50 women have accused him of drugging and/or sexually assaulting them. Throughout the accusations, he has maintained his innocence and has denied all wrongdoing.
On Thursday, Cosby’s lawyer, Monique Pressley, appeared on the Today show via satellite to discuss Cosby’s criminal charge, and said her client was “not guilty.” “My client is not guilty,” Pressley told Today co-host Savannah Guthrie. “And there will be no consideration on our part of any sort of [plea] arrangement.”
When asked how Cosby is viewing the charges, Pressley added, “I can’t testify really about his state of mind. Personally, he’s been accused unjustly of a crime, so certainly that’s upsetting. But he’s in good spirits and he knows that he has a legal team that is intent on defending him until he’s exonerated.”
If Cosby is found guilty of the charge – which is considered a second degree felony – he could face up to 10 years in prison, and would be required to register as a sex offender. His preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 14.
Leave a Reply