What Does The New Information Mean For Bill Cosby?

A new chapter has been opened in the Bill Cosby story. As was revealed on July 6, Bill Cosby admitted in a 2005 deposition that he obtained Quaaludes with the intention of giving them to young women who he wanted to have sex with. He also admitted to giving them to at least one woman and "other people," according to the documents acquired by the Associated Press. Sexual abuse allegations have been brought against Cosby by more than 30 women, but now that this new information has been released, some people might be wondering just how the new details about the Quaaludes will affect Cosby.

As it turns out, this reveal does have legal implications, as well as implications in the public eye. Although the case connected to the 2005 deposition settled in 2006, it is possible that this admission can be addressed in a different court case. A federal judge is set to hear arguments in a defamation case against Cosby, which was filed by three alleged victims, Tamara Green, Therese Serignese, and Linda Traitz. And according to attorney Gloria Allred, the 2005 deposition release is fair game to ask about in a civil case. Allred told The Daily Mail, "We can ask him about his admission. So I do believe that it is very, very important from a legal point of view, as well as from an emotional point of view for many of the alleged victims."

As for Cosby's response to the deposition records being released, his rep released a statement to ABC News, which reads, "The only reason Mr. Cosby settled was because it would have been embarrassing in those days to put all those women on the stand and his family had no clue. That would have been very hurtful."

Though the disgraced comedian has had many new allegations brought against him in the past several months, the statute of limitations has prevented legal action from being taken by the alleged victims. But one alleged victim, Barbara Bowman, said that this new reveal is a "game-changer." She told CNN, "I think we're going to be heard now. And I think this is just the beginning."

Green, Serignese, and Traitz filed their lawsuit in January and claimed that Cosby had publicly branded them as liars. In February, Cosby's lawyer released the following statement in regards to this accusation: "The law does not require that one stand idly by while he is publicly attacked. Instead, the law entitles an individual who is accused of serious wrongdoing to rebut the allegations without facing defamation claims." Now that the information about Cosby obtaining the Quaaludes for sex is public knowledge, it could strengthen their case, as well as any future defamation cases brought against Cosby.

And in terms of an public standpoint, Cosby has lost many of his longtime, steadfast supporters because of this reveal, one of the most prominent being singer Jill Scott. Once one of his most outspoken supporters, she tweeted on July 6, "About Bill Cosby. Sadly his testimony offers proof of terrible deeds, which is all I have ever required believing the accusations." In a wider scope, it is safe to say that Cosby's public image and reputation is now damaged beyond repair.

As for the sexual misconduct allegations, Cosby's statement via his lawyer, from November 2014, reads as follows:

Over the last several weeks, decade-old, discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby have resurfaced. The fact that they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment. He would like to thank all his fans for the outpouring of support and assure them that, at age 77, he is doing his best work. There will be no further statement from Mr. Cosby or any of his representatives.

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