Back in February, Bill Cosby compared himself to a political prisoner, like Nelson Mandela, for being locked up at SCI Phoenix, about 30 minutes outside of Philadelphia.
In September 2018, the disgraced comedian was sentenced to 3 to 10 years for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman named Andrea Constand, who worked at Cosby’s Temple University alma mater as the director of operations for the women’s basketball team.
On Wednesday — the same day Cosby’s appellate lawyers said they’d file an application so he’d be released while awaiting appeal — the 81-year-old sent a statement through his spokesman Andrew Wyatt and called Steven O’Neill, the judge who sentenced him, an overt racist.
Cosby also said the judge refuses to follow Pennsylvania state law 1925 (a), which requires him to give the reason he sentenced him to 3 to 10 years in a maximum security prison.
The comedian said that he wants O’Neill removed from the case, which is something his lawyers also tried to do in 2018, shortly before he was sentenced.
“This judge took an oath. I Believe. To be fair and impartial, which grants him the authority to perform all of the duties detailed in the Constitution,” said Cosby in a statement published by USA Today.
“His dishonorable conduct makes me smile, because this judge is being exposed, and it shows that this is bigger than me, [Bill Cosby],” he added. “O’Neill now has his formula: tried, true and tested to destroy Any Black Man and/or Colored Man In America.”
Cosby also said the truth surrounding the alleged bias in the case is now coming to light.
“I’m just so happy, because this guy is proving my innocence,” he stated. “And guess what else, America is finally getting to witness the truth.
#FreeBillCosby #FarFromFinished.”
Cosby’s attorneys Brian Perry and Kristen Weisenberger said their client should be freed during appeal due to being 81 years of age and legally blind.
“This court should grant Mr. Cosby bail in light of his age, health, and high chances of success on appeal,” a motion read. “Furthermore, bail is appropriate where the trail court has refused to timely issue his (sentencing opinion), prejudicing Mr. Cosby’s right to a reasonably timely appeal.”
Besides Constand, about 60 other women accused Cosby of either drugging or sexual abusing them as far back as the 1960s. Cosby has maintained his innocence all along.
