The Defendants: Case Files
The next iteration of The Defendants.
Our first six episodes explored how the justice system is set up, and why it doesn’t work for cases involving sexual violence. We are working on our next six, which will further explore how we can change this system for the better. In the interim, we want to keep the conversation going, and we’re doing that with Defendants: Case Files.
Once a month, myself and human rights expert Anuja Jaiswal are going to look into a specific case that caught our attention and ignited conversation. We’re going to discuss what happened, why it played out that way, and what we think that can tell us about not just the justice system, but about us, and how our reactions contribute to the problem.
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Resources:
SA Survivor Resource Document - This document contains Canadian, U.S, and Global sources to find guidance, information, and aid for survivors of sexual assault. Detailed descriptions of each resource within the document.
EPISODE SHOW NOTES
Anuja misspoke at 1:38:10. She says Debra Motsinger but she meant *Donna Motsinger.
11:35: For clarity: When Anuja says “70s and 80s”, she means that some of the alleged assaults took place as far back as then.
30:56: Matt Lauer’s interview with Tamara Green was in 2005 and he was fired for sexual misconduct in 2017 (not 30 years later, as Anuja said – that was the time gap Matt Lauer grilled Tamara Green on during the interview).
44.07: Fear of being *disbelieved
1:00:44: End of the trials in *2018
1:24:40: Tamara Green did not testify in the Bill Cosby trials. The accusers that testified were: Kelley Johnson (first trial), Heidi Thomas, Chelan Lasha, Janice Baker-Kinney, Janice Dickinson, and Lisa Lotte-Lublin (second trial).
1:34:03: We cannot say that it is *reasonable…
1:37:46: “She” refers to Nicole Weisensee Egan in The Daily Beast article quoted below
Nicole Weisensee Egan’s book (covers 2005-2019):
Chasing Cosby: The Downfall of America’s Dad by Nicole Weisensee Egan
Nicole Weisensee Egan, Chasing Crosby: The Downfall of America’s Dad (Berkeley, California: Seal Press, 2019)
Legal documents:
Press Release closing the 2005 investigation (later claimed to be an immunity agreement)
Press release from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania signed by Bruce Castor, then District Attorney. Published on February 17, 2005.
2015 Police Complaint, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Bill Cosby
Shared by the New York Times. Complaint dated December 29, 2015.
Excerpts from Bill Cosby’s Deposition in his Civil Case with Andrea Constand, settled in 2005.
Andrea Constand’s Victim Impact Statement
Submitted to the Court for Bill Cosby’s sentencing. Shared by the New York Times on September 25, 2018.
Appeal Judgment from Supreme Court of Pennsylvania overturning Bill Cosby’s conviction
Argued December 1, 2020 and decided on June 30, 2021.
Quoted sources:
“BILL COSBY CHOSE his victims carefully, with the instincts of a predator. He chose young, vulnerable, star-struck women, many of them budding actresses, models, and singers, all of them in less powerful positions than him, blinded by his squeaky-clean reputation, and whom, he knew, would not be believed should they come forward with their tales of mentorship and betrayal run amok.
He used the same technique, over and over again.
First, he’d befriend a young woman he’d met either through their agent or by chance. She might be an aspiring model or actress or just a pretty young woman dazzled by his attention and confident he was who he seemed to be. His status as a beloved celebrity created instant trust.
He’d ask them about their lives and offer advice, auditions, and help with their careers. He might even meet their mom, flattering her with praise for her children or inviting her to a performance at which he’d roll out the red carpet with backstage passes and premium seats and pose for a picture or two. Perhaps he’d come to a family dinner, praising the home-cooked meals of a hardworking grandmother and bringing ice cream to “to offer the children. And Jell-O pudding pops.
Then, when the time was right, he’d entice them into an environment he controlled—a hotel room, his dressing room, his own house, or even a friend’s home that he was borrowing—and he’d slip a drug into a drink or offer “cold medicine.” Several hours, a day, or even two days later the woman would wake up, bruised and disoriented, with her clothes off and a strange sense that violence had been done.”
From Chasing Cosby: The Downfall of America’s Dad by Nicole Weisensee Egan, p.10-11
“At the time of the assault, I was 30 years old, and a fit, confident athlete. I was
strong, and skilled, with great reflexes, agility and speed.”
“Instead of being able to run, jump and pretty much do anything I wanted physically, during the assault, I was paralyzed and completely helpless. I could not move my arms
or legs. I couldn’t speak or even remain conscious. I was completely vulnerable,
and powerless to protect myself.”
From Andrea Constand’s Victim Impact Statement
Hannibal Buress’ Comedy Routine
“While I am grateful for the new attention to Cosby’s crimes, I must ask my own questions: Why wasn’t I believed? Why didn’t I get the same reaction of shock and revulsion when I originally reported it? Why was I, a victim of sexual assault, further wronged by victim blaming when I came forward? The women victimized by Bill Cosby have been talking about his crimes for more than a decade. Why didn’t our stories go viral?”
From Barbara Bowman’s article “Bill Cosby Raped me. Why did it take 30 years for people to believe my story?”. Published in The Washington Post on November 13, 2014.
“What took so long is that those in the know kept it mostly to themselves. No one wanted to disturb the Natural Order of Things, which was that Mr. Cosby was beloved; that he was as generous and paternal as his public image; and that his approach to life and work represented a bracing corrective to the coarse, self-defeating urban black ethos.
[...]
In the end, it fell to a comic, not an investigative reporter or biographer, to speak truth to entertainment power, to take on the Natural Order of Things.[...]
For decades, entertainers have been able to maintain custody of their image, regardless of their conduct. Many had entire crews of dust busters who came behind them and cleaned up their messes.
Those days are history. It doesn’t really matter now what the courts or the press do or decide. When enough evidence and pushback rears into view, a new apparatus takes over, one that is viral, relentless and not going to forgive or forget.”
From David Carr’s article “Calling Out Bill Cosby’s Media Enablers, Including Myself”. Published in The New York Times on November 24, 2014.
“She compared her husband’s case to that of Emmett Till, a fourteen-year-old African American boy who was lynched in 1955 Mississippi after being falsely accused of leering at a white woman, and Darryl Hunt, an African American man who served nineteen years in prison after being falsely convicted of raping and murdering a white woman in North Carolina in 1984.”
From Nicole Weisensee Egan’s account of Camille Cosby’s statement after Bill Cosby’s first trial resulted in a hung jury, Chasing Cosby: The Downfall of America’s Dad by Nicole Weisensee Egan, p.233
“Telling my story wouldn’t only help bring down Cosby; I feared it would undermine the entire African American community…”
“Historical images of black men being vilified en masse as sexually violent sent chills through my body…”
“I knew these women weren’t fabricating stories and conspiring to destroy America’s favorite dad, but I did not want to see yet another African American man vilified in the media.”
From Jewel Allison’s article “Bill Cosby Sexually Assaulted Me. I Didn’t Tell Because I Didn’t Want to Let Black America Down. I Let Race Trump Rape.”. Published in The Washington Post on March 6, 2015.
“As I thought of going public… a voice in my head kept whispering, ‘Black men have enough enemies out there already, they certainly don’t need someone like you, an African American with a familiar face and a famous name, fanning the flames.’”
“Finally, I reached the conclusion that the current attack on African American men has absolutely nothing to do at all with Bill Cosby,”
“If anything, Cosby is distinguished from the majority of black men in this country because he could depend on the powers that be for support and protection.”
From Beverly Johnson’s essay “Bill Cosby Drugged me. This is my story.”. Published in Vanity Fair on December 11, 2014.
“In one of many text exchanges with the former Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon during this period, Mr. Epstein discussed using the Kavanaugh’s hearing to fuel widespread perceptions of a #MeToo witch hunt. Mr. Epstein suggested that Dr. Blasey’s testimony could be undermined if she were compared to privileged white women accusing Black men of rape — which, during Jim Crow, often led to those Black men being lynched.
“Should strike a chord with the blacks,” Mr. Epstein wrote. “Love that,” replied Mr. Bannon.”
From Claire Wilmot’s essay “The Epstein Emails show #MeToo never stood a Chance”. Published in The New York Times on April 3, 2026.
“Watching him be dragged somewhere he didn’t want to go, I kept thinking, ‘That’s how I felt, you son of a bitch,’”
“Unable to save myself. Unable to do a goddamn thing. Utterly helpless.”
Tamara Green quoted by Nicole Weisensee Egan in Chasing Cosby: The Downfall of America’s Dad, p.243
“Our nation’s greatest African Americans have been on the front lines of civil rights efforts, not in our television sets.
Bill Cosby did not lead the March on Washington, and The Cosby Show didn’t end racism. The only legacy at stake is one of entertainer, not of black manhood, as I once feared.”
From Jewel Allison’s article “Bill Cosby Sexually Assaulted Me. I Didn’t Tell Because I Didn’t Want to Let Black America Down. I Let Race Trump Rape.”. Published in The Washington Post on March 6, 2015.
“I fully expected the state Supreme Court to rule in Cosby’s favor after I watched the oral arguments in December. The justices were openly hostile to the prosecution, and at one point, the chief justice just walked away and turned his camera off.”
From Nicole Weisensee Egan’s article, “Bill Cosby walks free because of this Power-Hungry Prosecutor”. Published in The Daily Beast on June 30th, 2021.
“Due to allegations, whether they be newspaper, radio, television, magazines or just plain internet, I have not worked in about 10 years, or more,”
“That means I have not earned a cent through my being an entertainer, a writer, a television performer, except in reruns, and my net worth has gone down like a submarine with no motor.”
Bill Cosby in his deposition in Donna Motsinger’s civil suit, quoted in Graham Bowley and Rachel Parsons’ article “Bill Cosby loses Sex Assault Lawsuit and Faces a $59 Million Judgment”. Published in The New York Times on March 23, 2026.
Other sources:
All The New York Times Articles pulled from this topic page:
Bill Cosby - The New York Times
Compiled accusations:
A Timeline of the Abuse Charges Against Bill Cosby [Updated]
Initial reporting in 2005:
Dr. Huxtable & Mr. Hyde - Philadelphia Magazine
Reporting on Hannibal Buress’ comedy routine and subsequent fallout:
Hannibal Buress Called Bill Cosby a Rapist - Vulture
Comeback by Bill Cosby Unravels as Rape Claims Re-emerge - The New York Times
Bill Cosby Gave Interview to Keep Charges Secret - The New York Times
Accuser Sues Ex-Prosecutor Who Didn’t Charge Bill Cosby - The New York Times
Bill Cosby Team’s response to accusations
Bill Cosby’s Lawyer Fires Back at Accusers: “This Is Utter Nonsense”
Cosby Team’s Strategy: Hush Accusers, Insult Them, Blame the Media - The New York Times
Bill Cosby Sues to Recover Money From Andrea Constand - The New York Times
Reporting on Bill Cosby’s unsealed deposition
Bill Cosby Admission About Quaaludes Offers Accusers Vindication - The New York Times
Bill Cosby, in Deposition, Said Drugs and Fame Helped Him Seduce Women - The New York Times
Uncertainty on Whether Cosby Revelations Could Hurt Him in Court - The New York Times
Reporting on first criminal trial
Bill Cosby’s Lawyer Says Former DA Made Promise Not to Prosecute Him
Bill Cosby’s Lawyers Say Binding Promise in 2005 Should Prevent Prosecution - The New York Times
Judge Allows Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Case to Go Forward - The New York Times
The Cosby Case: Where Things Stand - The New York Times
The Other 13 Women Testifying Against Cosby ... if the Court Lets Them
Bill Cosby’s Lawyers Say Prosecution’s Delay Violated His Rights - The New York Times
Court Debates Which Cosby Accusers May Testify
Cosby Lawyers Ask Judge to Change Trial Location - The New York Times
Judge Allows Testimony of Another Accuser in Cosby Case - The New York Times
Judge Decides to Import Jury for Bill Cosby’s Trial - The New York Times
Prosecutors Want Cosby ‘Spanish Fly’ Comments as Evidence at Trial - The New York Times
Drug Evidence Will Be Permitted at Cosby Trial - The New York Times
Bill Cosby Says He Will Not Testify at His Criminal Trial - The New York Times
Judge Allows Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Case to Go Forward - The New York Times
Bill Cosby’s Sexual Assault Case Ends in a Mistrial - The New York Times
On Statutes of Limitations in Sexual Assault Cases
Opinion | No More Statutes of Limitations for Rape - The New York Times
California’s Expanded Statute of Limitations for Civil Claims for Sexual Assault
Reporting on second criminal trial
Bill Cosby Trial: Five Jurors Are Chosen in a Painstaking Process - The New York Times
Opinion | Sketching the Bill Cosby Trial - The New York Times
Bill Cosby Is Found Guilty of Sexual Assault - The New York Times
Andrea Constand Was the ‘Linchpin’ of the Bill Cosby Case - The New York Times
Appeals
Bill Cosby’s Appeal Cites 11 ‘Errors’ by Trial Judge - The New York Times
Bill Cosby Loses Appeal of Sexual Assault Conviction - The New York Times
Bill Cosby Freed as Court Overturns His Sex Assault Conviction - The New York Times
Cosby’s Accusers Say They Are ‘Devastated’ About Decision to Free Him
The Cosby Ruling: Some Legal Analysts Dispute the Court’s Reasoning
Reporting on Bill Cosby’s life now
Where Is Bill Cosby Now? Inside the Disgraced Comedian’s Life Today After 3 Years in Prison
Civil lawsuits following conviction being overturned
Bill Cosby-Judy Huth Trial: What to Know
Bill Cosby Loses Sex Assault Lawsuit and Faces a $59 Million Judgment - The New York Times
Get in Touch!
If you have questions or ideas about the show we’d love to hear them!
Email us at defendantspodoutreach@protonmail.com
You can also find us on instagram: we’re @thedefendantspodcast and Jane is @jane_aster_roe
If you want Jane to appear on your show, email Dalton Higgins at daltonhiggins@gmail.com.
Our Team
Jane Aster Roe - Executive Producer, Host
Anuja Jaiswal - Host
Rachel Arundel - Executive Producer, Video Editor
Katie Jensen - Executive Producer, Sound Designer
