Thousands of people on Twitter are crediting comedian Hannibal Buress for starting the avalanche of accusations that led to Bill Cosby’s conviction on charges he drugged and molested a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home.
The Latest on Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial (all times local):
6:50 p.m.
Thousands of people on Twitter are crediting comedian Hannibal Buress for starting the avalanche of accusations that led to Bill Cosby’s conviction on charges he drugged and molested a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home.
Buress called Cosby a rapist on a stand-up comedy stage in 2014 and encouraged the audience to Google it. A fan’s cellphone video of the moment went viral. Soon the allegations against Cosby became common knowledge, and his accusers were galvanized.
Cosby has denied the allegations but was convicted Thursday and could get up to 10 years in prison.
Buress has been silent about the Cosby verdict. But social media is anything but silent about it.
TV comedy writer Travon Free tweets someone should buy Buress a drink every day from now on. Political commentator John Podhoretz tweets «Hannibal Buress changed history.»
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5:30 p.m.
Bill Cosby’s alma mater says it will reconsider an honorary degree awarded to the comedian more than two decades ago.
Temple University in Philadelphia made the announcement Thursday after a jury found Cosby guilty of drugging and molesting a Temple employee in 2004.
A school spokesman says the verdict «provides additional facts for the university to consider» with respect to the honorary degree.
Cosby received his bachelor’s from Temple and served on its board of trustees for decades before resigning in 2014. He received the honorary degree in 1991.
Board of Trustees Chairman Patrick O’Connor says he will recuse himself from discussions on the honorary degree. O’Connor represented Cosby in 2005 when he first faced allegations of sexual assault.
Dozens of other colleges have already revoked honors given to Cosby.
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3:55 p.m.
A prosecutor says Bill Cosby showed his true colors when he went on an expletive-laced tirade after his conviction on sexual assault charges.
Cosby called District Attorney Kevin Steele an «a—hole» in court after Steele asked the judge to revoke the 80-year-old comedian’s bail and send him to jail. Cosby remains free.
Steele tells reporters Thursday the outburst showed that Cosby’s good-guy persona was just an act, and «we got to see who he really was.»
Cosby was convicted of drugging and assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004.
Constand’s lawyer, Dolores Troiani, thanked prosecutors and investigators for their diligence and praised Constand for her courage. She says, «Although justice was delayed, it was not denied.»
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3:35 p.m.
A TV network says it is yanking all reruns of «The Cosby Show» after Bill Cosby’s conviction on sexual assault charges.
Bounce TV said Thursday it is pulling the show from its schedule.
«The Cosby Show» aired on the network as recently as Thursday morning.
Atlanta-based Bounce, which caters to black viewers, is available in more than 99 million homes across the United States. It airs a mix of reruns and original series like «Saints & Sinners.»
Cosby was convicted on Thursday of drugging and molesting a woman at his home outside Philadelphia in 2004.
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3:25 p.m.
A prosecutor says the jury that convicted Bill Cosby of sexual assault has delivered justice to the 80-year-old comedian’s chief accuser.
District Attorney Kevin Steele praised Andrea Constand as the «first courageous person» to go public with her allegations that Cosby drugged and molested her.
Cosby was convicted Thursday. His lawyer promised to appeal.
Some 60 women have come forward to accuse Cosby of sexual misconduct going back five decades. Five other accusers testified against him at the trial.
Steele says Cosby was «a man who had evaded this moment for far too long.»
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2:50 p.m.
Bill Cosby’s lawyer says the «fight is not over» after the 80-year-old comedian’s conviction on sexual assault charges.
Tom Mesereau spoke Thursday outside the suburban Philadelphia courthouse where a jury found that Cosby drugged and molested a woman at his home in 2004.
Mesereau says Cosby will appeal his conviction on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Each count carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. He’ll be sentenced in 60 to 90 days.
Cosby said nothing to reporters but acknowledged the crowd on the courthouse steps, then gave a thumbs-up as his car pulled away.
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2:35 p.m.
A lawyer for some of Bill Cosby’s accusers says «justice has been done» after the comedian’s conviction on sexual assault charges.
Gloria Allred represents three of the five additional accusers who testified that Cosby drugged and molested them. Cosby’s lawyers painted the women as home-wreckers and liars who made up their allegations in a bid for money and fame.
Allred spoke Thursday outside the suburban Philadelphia courthouse where Cosby was convicted. She says her clients are grateful to the jury for seeing past «his defense attorney’s lies.»
Cosby accuser Janice Baker-Kinney, who alleges he drugged and raped her in 1982, says in a statement she’s relieved «this toxic chain of silence has been broken» and says the women can move forward «with heads held high.»
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2:10 p.m.
Bill Cosby is lashing out at prosecutors after a jury convicted him of three counts of aggravated indecent assault.
Cosby stood up and erupted after jurors left the courtroom. He used an expletive to refer to District Attorney Kevin Steele, who was arguing to revoke Cosby’s bail. Cosby shouted, «I’m sick of him!»
The judge ruled that Cosby will remain free pending sentencing.
Cosby was convicted Thursday of drugging and molesting a woman 14 years ago.
The 80-year-old entertainer stared straight ahead as the verdict was read. His chief accuser, Andrea Constand, remained stoic. Shrieks erupted in the courtroom and some of his other accusers whimpered and cried.
Judge Steven O’Neill told the panel of seven men and five women that it was «an extraordinarily difficult case.» He says the jurors «sacrificed in the service of justice.»
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1:50 p.m.
Bill Cosby has been convicted of drugging and molesting a woman in the first big celebrity trial of the #MeToo era.
A jury outside Philadelphia convicted the «Cosby Show» star of three counts of aggravated indecent assault on Thursday. The guilty verdict came less than a year after another jury deadlocked on the charges.
Cosby was charged with violating Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004. His lawyer called Constand a «con artist» who leveled false accusations against Cosby so she could sue him.
Cosby could get up to 10 years in prison on each of the counts.
Dozens of women have come forward in recent years to say he drugged and assaulted them. Five of the other accusers testified against him at the retrial.
The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission. Constand has done so.
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1:25 p.m.
The jury is heading back to the courtroom and Bill Cosby’s defense team is saying there’s a verdict in his sexual assault retrial.
The panel of seven men and five women have been deliberating about 14 hours.
The 80-year-old comedian is accused of drugging and violating a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.
He’s charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault. A conviction could put him in prison for up to 10 years on each count.
