(AllHipHop News) Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case is set to move into the jury selection phase on May 22 in Pittsburgh.
The State of Pennsylvania vs. William H. Cosby Jr. is scheduled to begin shortly after that date in June.
As the legendary comedian is preparing to have his day in court, his children are pushing back against the media narrative that their father assaulted over 60 women.
Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club received exclusive audio from Cosby’s daughters, Ensa and Erinn, where they offer a defense of the 79-year-old television star.
“The man portrayed in the media today is not who my father is. My father is a civil rights activist. My father is an advocate for children. My father is an educator. My father is a philanthropist. My father is an immensely talented and innovative entertainer,” stated Ensa.
She went on to say the accusations against her dad have been “one-sided since the beginning” and believes racism played a role in the legal scandal.
“My father is being punished by a society that still believes black men rape white women, but passes off as ‘boys will be boys’ when white men are accused,” added Ensa. “My father has been publicly lynched in the media.”
Her sister’s personal statement also included a scolding of the press for spreading “gossip” for entertainment.
“What my father and family had to endure the last few years makes me ashamed of our country today,” said Erinn. “I cannot understand how our society has permitted my father to be condemned so unjustly and cruelly in the court of public opinion without evidence or proof and with no verdict or judgment.”
The alleged victim in the Pennsylvania case, former Temple University employee Andrea Constand, claims Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2004.
In February 2005, authorities announced Cosby would not be charged over Constand’s allegations of sexual misconduct, citing insufficient evidence.
Constand filed a civil lawsuit against Cosby later that year which was settled in 2006 for an undisclosed amount.
In December 2015, Cosby was charged with three counts of aggravated indecent assault against Constand.
The Montgomery County District Attorney announced that decision just weeks before the statute of limitations ran out in the case.
A deposition from the Constand civil case, where Cosby seemingly admits to giving women drugs in order to have sex with them, will be presented by the prosecution at trial.
Cosby has maintained he is innocent of any crimes.
If convicted, he could face a 30-year sentence in prison.
