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  • BREAKING NEWS

BREAKING NEWS

Giles County deputies searching for armed man with outstanding warrants

BILL COSBY


A new documentary reexamines the Louis CK scandal, 6 years later

A new documentary premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival examines the Louis C.

Billy Crystal and Queen Latifah look marvelous as they headline this year's Kennedy Center Honors

You know you’ve made a cultural impact when Henry Kissinger quotes your own joke back to you.

Cosby accusers push laws that let sex-assault victims seek justice years later

A group of women who accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault and were dismayed when he had his conviction overturned and left prison are trying again to seek justice in the courts.

Bill Cosby sued by 9 more women in Nevada for alleged decades-old sexual assaults

Nine more women are accusing Bill Cosby of sexual assault in a lawsuit that alleges he used what they call his “enormous power, fame and prestige” to victimize them.

Former Playboy model accuses Bill Cosby of drugging and sexually assaulted her in 1969

A former Playboy model who alleges Bill Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her and another woman at his home in 1969 is suing the entertainer in Los Angeles under a new California law that suspends the statute of limitations on sex abuse claims.

Actor Danny Masterson drugged, raped women, prosecutor says

A Los Angeles prosecutor told jurors that actor Danny Masterson drugged three women before raping them.

5 years on, key #MeToo voices take stock of the movement

Once again, disgraced mogul Harvey Weinstein sits in a courtroom, on trial in Los Angeles while the reckoning the accusations against him launched marks a significant milestone this month.

Timeline of Roman Polanski's 45-year-old teen sex abuse case

The release of a transcript of previously sealed testimony in Roman Polanski's long-running sex abuse case in Los Angeles is the latest development in a legal saga that has spanned 45 years.

Civil jury finds Bill Cosby sexually abused teenager in 1975

Civil trial jurors have found that Bill Cosby sexually abused a 16-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1975.

Bill Cosby civil trial jury must start deliberations over

After two days of deliberations, jurors in a civil trial deciding on sexual abuse allegations against Bill Cosby will have to start from scratch on Monday.

Cosby lawyer urges jurors to consider only proof from trial

A lawyer for Bill Cosby told jurors they need to look past years of public accusations against him and consider only the evidence presented by a woman who says he sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 1975 when she was 16.

Cosby in video testimony denies sex abuse of teen in 1970s

Video testimony played for jurors at a civil trial shows Bill Cosby denying sexually abusing a teenage girl at the Playboy Mansion in the mid-1970s.

'Donkey Kong defense' arises at Bill Cosby sex abuse trial

A dispute over the arcade game Donkey Kong arose during the civil trial of Bill Cosby over allegations that he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl at the Playboy Mansion in 1975.

Woman testifies Cosby forcibly kissed her when she was 14

A woman testified that she was 14 when Bill Cosby took her into a trailer on a movie set in 1975, grabbed her so she couldn’t move her arms, and kissed her.

Distraught teen told of Cosby sex abuse, friend testifies

A friend of a woman suing Bill Cosby alleging he sexually abused her as a teen testified that Judy Huth was distraught and in tears at the Playboy Mansion in 1975 after the alleged molestation.

EXPLAINER: A look at Bill Cosby's sexual assault civil trial

Eleven months after he was freed from prison, 85-year-old Bill Cosby will again be the defendant in a sexual assault proceeding.

Bill Cosby lawyers cry foul as civil sex assault trial looms

With less than a week to go before a civil trial, Bill Cosby's lawyers are crying foul over a change in the story of a woman who alleges he sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion.

Mario Batali acquittal underscores perils of #MeToo cases

Legal experts and victims’ advocates say celebrity chef Mario Batali’s acquittal on sexual assault charges underscores the inherent difficulties of prosecuting such cases nearly five years into the #MeToo era.

Jon Stewart: Authoritarian governments a threat, not comedy

Comedian Jon Stewart says speculation about the future of comedy amid increased audience cultural sensitivity is ignoring a true and enduring threat: authoritarian governments around the world.

High court narrows reach of law targeting career criminals

The Supreme Court is narrowing the reach of a federal law that strengthens penalties for career criminals found to illegally have a gun.

Supreme Court won't review decision that freed Bill Cosby

A spokesperson for Bill Cosby says the 84-year-old comedian is considering a final standup tour after the U.S. Supreme Court said it would not revive the sexual assault case against him.

Take the 5th? The choice could soon be Trump's in NY probe

To plead the Fifth or not to plead the Fifth.

Bill Cosby likely to avoid testifying in sex assault lawsuit

A Los Angeles judge appears strongly inclined to allow Bill Cosby to invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege and avoid giving a deposition in the lawsuit of a woman who alleges he sexually abused her when she was 15 in the mid-1970s.

Cosby asks Supreme Court not to revive sexual assault case

Bill Cosby has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a bid by prosecutors to revive his criminal sex assault case.

10 movies you'll want to see from the Sundance Film Festival

Dispatches from the Sundance Film Festival are usually accompanied by descriptions of the looming mountains, snowy premieres and frantic bus shuttles.

The Sundance Film Festival is back and online once more

The 44th annual Sundance Film Festival is back, and entirely online once more.

Jason Momoa, Lisa Bonet split after 16 years together

Jason Momoa and wife Lisa Bonet have ended their 16-year relationship.

Sidney Poitier changed movies, and changed lives

Sidney Poitier made history — on the screen and off.

Appellate judges raise doubts about Weinstein's conviction

A New York appeals court has excoriated Manhattan prosecutors for filling out Harvey Weinstein’s rape trial last year with what one judge deemed “incredibly prejudicial testimony” from women whose allegations weren’t part of the criminal charges against him.

Sundance Film Fest unveils lineup for hybrid 2022 edition

The Sundance Film Festival is returning to the Utah mountains in January armed with documentaries about Bill Cosby, Princess Diana, Kanye West and Lucille Ball as well as the directorial debuts of Eva Longoria, Tig Notaro and Jesse Eisenberg.

Cosby prosecutors urge Supreme Court to restore conviction

Prosecutors have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction.

Maxwell's brother says US prosecutors seeking to 'break' her

The brother of a British socialite charged with helping Jeffrey Epstein exploit underage girls says her prosecution is “the most over-hyped trial of the century,” designed to break a woman targeted by authorities who are desperate to blame someone for the late financier’s crimes.

Mort Sahl, comedian who satirized politics, dies at 94

Mort Sahl, comedian who satirized politics, dies at 94

Comedian Mort Sahl has died.

Melvin Van Peebles, godfather of Black cinema, dies at 89

Melvin Van Peebles, godfather of Black cinema, dies at 89

Melvin Van Peebles, a Broadway playwright, musician and movie director whose work ushered in the “blaxploitation” films of the 1970s, has died.

Jay Leno bets on reboot of Groucho Marx 1950s game show

Jay Leno bets on reboot of Groucho Marx 1950s game show

If leaving the storied role of “The Tonight Show” host mandates retirement, Jay Leno ignored the memo.

Andrea Constand writes of Cosby trial, #MeToo in new memoir

Andrea Constand writes of Cosby trial, #MeToo in new memoir

Bill Cosby accuser Andrea Constand has penned a memoir out Tuesday that offers a view from her seat at the center of a high-profile #MeToo case.

#MeToo Take 2? Movement’s strength hailed amid Cuomo fallout

#MeToo Take 2? Movement’s strength hailed amid Cuomo fallout

Since its launch in 2017, the #MeToo movement has experienced some fits and starts.

Diversity, firsts and more facts from the Emmy nominations

Diversity, firsts and more facts from the Emmy nominations

It's a year of diversity and firsts in the nominations for the 73rd Emmy Awards.

For top #MeToo legal duo, a pandemic year brings no pause

For top #MeToo legal duo, a pandemic year brings no pause

The pandemic hasn't slowed down two of the most prominent #MeToo attorneys, who say they're having their busiest year ever.

Advocates for domestic violence victims worry Bill Cosby’s release will silence sexual assault survivors

Advocates for domestic violence victims worry Bill Cosby’s release will silence sexual assault survivors

Advocates for domestic violence survivors are worried that the recent ruling on Bill Cosby’s case will impact sexual abuse victims. However, there are agencies reminding survivors that they are not alone.

Hard lessons for lawyers in Cosby case; tougher for victims

Hard lessons for lawyers in Cosby case; tougher for victims

The public outcry over Bill Cosby’s sudden release from prison, where he was serving a sentence for criminal sexual assault, was swift, with #MeToo activists worried it would have a chilling effect on sexual assault survivors.

Rashad draws critics and dismissal calls for defending Cosby

Rashad draws critics and dismissal calls for defending Cosby

Phylicia Rashad has found herself embroiled in controversy after expressing public support for Bill Cosby’s release from prison, with some prominent Black voices calling for her dismissal as dean of Howard University's College of Fine Arts.

Whither #MeToo? Chilling effect of Cosby reversal feared

Whither #MeToo? Chilling effect of Cosby reversal feared

When Bill Cosby went to prison nearly three years ago, it was the most stunning development yet of the year-old #MeToo movement.

EXPLAINER: Why Bill Cosby's conviction was overturned

EXPLAINER: Why Bill Cosby's conviction was overturned

Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction has been thrown out by Pennsylvania’s highest court, which ruled that he was unfairly prosecuted because a previous district attorney had promised he wouldn't be charged.

WATCH: Bill Cosby makes his first appearance since his prison release

WATCH: Bill Cosby makes his first appearance since his prison release

Members of the media were outside Bill Cosby’s house in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania to witness his first appearance since he was released from prison Wednesday afternoon.

Bill Cosby freed from prison after sexual assault conviction overturned

Bill Cosby freed from prison after sexual assault conviction overturned

Bill Cosby has been freed from prison after Pennsylvania’s highest court overturned his sexual assault conviction.

Clarence Williams III, 'The Mod Squad's' Linc, dies at 81

Clarence Williams III, 'The Mod Squad's' Linc, dies at 81

Clarence Williams III, who played the cool undercover cop Linc Hayes on the counterculture series “The Mod Squad” and Prince’s father in “Purple Rain,” has died.

Bill Cosby refuses sex offender program, so is denied parole

Bill Cosby refuses sex offender program, so is denied parole

Actor Bill Cosby has been denied parole after refusing to participate in sex offender programs during his nearly three years in state prison in Pennsylvania.

Actor Masterson's ex says she had to pull hair to stop rape

Actor Masterson's ex says she had to pull hair to stop rape

A woman testified that she was five years into a relationship with actor Danny Masterson when he began having sex with her while she slept, as he often did.

Woman testifies she woke to find actor Masterson raping her

Woman testifies she woke to find actor Masterson raping her

A woman testified that she was slipping in and out of consciousness on a night 18 years ago when she said actor Danny Masterson raped her.

A university honors its grads 51 years after police shooting

A university honors its grads 51 years after police shooting

More than a half century late, Jackson State University, in Mississippi, is honoring its Class of 1970.

Lawyer defending Trump accustomed to political disaster

Lawyer defending Trump accustomed to political disaster

He argued that Trump could not have — and would not have — encouraged the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. “We’re really here because majority in the House of Representatives does not want to face Donald Trump as a political rival in the future. AdHis reemergence as an impeachment lawyer for Trump was a head-scratching moment for Pennsylvania's political and legal world. He had not campaigned for Trump, and a longtime friend, Brian Miles, told the Inquirer that the two men had never discussed Trump before Castor mentioned recently that he was up for the job. For all the criticism directed at him, Castor suggested that Trump did not criticize his performance.

Trump can't hang on to lawyers after false election claims

Trump can't hang on to lawyers after false election claims

Since losing the November election to President Joe Biden, Trump has been hemorrhaging attorneys. Trump's impeachment lawyers started off their defense by misspelling the words “United States” in their brief. Navarro told The Associated Press that he “warned the president that his legal team was going to fail him." Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said Trump’s team did a “terrible job." AdBut after impeachment, Trump's legal needs will likely accelerate, with the investigations in New York, Georgia and possibly Washington, D.C., where prosecutors will have the power of subpoena.

Trump names 2 lawyers to impeachment defense team

Trump names 2 lawyers to impeachment defense team

Former President Trump has named two lawyers to his impeachment defense team, one day after it was revealed that the former president had parted ways with an earlier set of attorneys. AdThe announcement was intended to promote a sense of stability surrounding the Trump defense team as his impeachment trial nears. Trump’s team had initially announced that Butch Bowers, a South Carolina lawyer, would lead his legal team after an introduction from Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. Many legal scholars, however, say there is no bar to an impeachment trial despite Trump having left the White House. Schoen met with financier Jeffrey Epstein about joining his defense team on sex trafficking charges just days before Epstein killed himself in a New York jail.

Rape charges denied by lawyer for '70s Show' actor Masterson

Rape charges denied by lawyer for '70s Show' actor Masterson

Attorney Tom Mesereau entered the plea for the 44-year-old actor, who was not in court, to three charges of rape by force or fear. Prosecutors allege that he raped a 23-year-old woman sometime in 2001, a 28-year-old woman in April of 2003, and a 23-year-old woman between October and December of 2003, all at his Hollywood Hills home. Defense lawyer Tom Mesereau entered the plea for Masterson, who was not present in court, to three charges of rape by force or fear in Los Angeles County Superior Court. All of the alleged rapes happened at his Hollywood Hills home. The alleged rapes happened at the height of Masterson’s fame as he starred as Steven Hyde on Fox TV's retro sitcom “That ’70s Show” from 1998 to 2006 alongside Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and Topher Grace.

Cosby's sex assault conviction goes before high-level court

Cosby's sex assault conviction goes before high-level court

Now the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is set to hear his appeal of the conviction on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020. The arguments will focus on the trial judge's decision to let five other accusers testify for the prosecution. Cosby, 83, hopes to overturn his 2018 sex assault conviction because the judge let prosecutors call five other accusers who said Cosby mistreated them the same way he did his victim, Andrea Constand. Judge Steven T. O'Neill had allowed just one other accuser to testify at Cosby's first trial in 2017, when the jury could not reach a verdict. O'Neill then let five other accusers testify at Cosby's retrial in 2018, when the jury convicted him of drugging and sexually assaulting Constand.

Bill Cosby, now 83, grins in newly released prison mug shot

Bill Cosby, now 83, grins in newly released prison mug shot

A newly released prison mug shot shows Bill Cosby smiling with a disposable mask hanging off his face. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections recently updated Cosby’s mug shot, something routinely done to document changes to inmates' appearance as they age. Cosby’s new photo was taken Sept. 4. It was accompanied by text that said: “This photo was taken by his publicist, Andrew Wyatt, during his first virtual video conference call with Mr. Cosby last week. An appeals court had upheld his conviction, but the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed this year to review two key issues in the case.

Bill Cosby, now 83, grins in newly released prison mug shot

Bill Cosby, now 83, grins in newly released prison mug shot

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A newly released prison mug shot shows Bill Cosby smiling with a disposable mask hanging off his face. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections recently updated Cosby’s mug shot, something routinely done to document changes to inmates' appearance as they age. Cosby's new photo was taken Sept. 4. It was accompanied by text that said: “This photo was taken by his publicist, Andrew Wyatt, during his first virtual video conference call with Mr. Cosby last week. An appeals court had upheld his conviction, but the Pennsylvania Supreme Court agreed this year to review two key issues in the case.

Bill Cosby appeal set for Dec. 1 in Pennsylvania high court

Bill Cosby appeal set for Dec. 1 in Pennsylvania high court

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear Bill Cosby's appeal of his felony sex assault conviction on Dec. 1. A lower appeals court had upheld his conviction, but the state's high court agreed this year to review two key issues in the case. The high court will also consider whether the jury should have heard evidence that Cosby had given quaaludes to women in the past. Dozens of women have come forward over the years to accuse Cosby of sexual assault, and the trial judge deemed him a sexually violent predator. The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are sexual assault victims without their permission, which Constand has granted.

Actor Masterson's lawyer denies and denounces rape charges

Actor Masterson's lawyer denies and denounces rape charges

Actor Danny Masterson, left, stands with his attorney, Thomas Mesereau as he is arraigned on rape charges at Los Angeles Superior Court, in Los Angeles, Calif. on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. (Lucy Nicholson/Pool Photo via AP)

Actor Masterson's lawyer denies and denounces rape charges

Actor Masterson's lawyer denies and denounces rape charges

Actor Danny Masterson, left, stands with his attorney, Thomas Mesereau as he is arraigned on rape charges at Los Angeles Superior Court, in Los Angeles, Calif. on Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. “There have been repeated attempts to politicize this case,” said Mesereau, who also represented Bill Cosby and Michael Jackson in their sexual misconduct cases. “We want to do anything we can to tone down the cameras and the circus-like atmosphere that have pervaded this case," the attorney said. Despite dozens of investigations, most have led to no charges based on lack of evidence or too much time passing. He was removed from the Netflix show “The Ranch” in 2017 over the allegations that would eventually lead to the charges.

Legal advocates line up on both sides of Bill Cosby's appeal

Legal advocates line up on both sides of Bill Cosby's appeal

PHILADELPHIA – Legal advocates are lining up on both sides of actor Bill Cosby’s appeal as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court prepares to review his 2018 sex assault conviction. Cosby was the first celebrity to go on trial in the #MeToo era, and his appeal could resolve lingering questions about how the cases should be tried. Public defenders in Philadelphia, in a friend-of-the-court brief filed in Cosby's appeal, noted that courts have given conflicting guidance on the issue. The other groups filing legal briefs in the appeal include the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association. Cosby’s trial judge, Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill, said their testimony did just that, even if it occurred a decade or two before Constand's encounter.

Polanski's request to restore film academy membership denied

Polanski's request to restore film academy membership denied

A judge on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2020, denied Polanski's request to restore his membership into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that bestows the Academy Awards two years after he was expelled from it for raping a minor. The fugitive film director sued in April 2019, asking the court to compel the organization to make him a member in good standing again. (AP Photo/File)LOS ANGELES A judge on Tuesday denied Roman Polanski's request to restore his membership in the organization that bestows the Academy Awards two years after he was expelled from it for raping a minor. The fugitive film director sued in April 2019, asking the court to compel the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to make him a member in good standing again. His art will survive long after the academy is a forgotten relic.An email seeking comment from academy officials wasn't immediately returned.

CBS News head calls threats against Gayle King reprehensible

CBS News head calls threats against Gayle King reprehensible

“We fully support Gayle King and her integrity as a journalist,” CBS News President Susan Zirinsky told The Associated Press. “We find the threats against her or any journalist doing their job reprehensible.”CBS would not discuss the nature of any private threats against King. Her friend, Oprah Winfrey, said in an NBC interview that King had received death threats and was traveling with security. “You come against Gayle King, you come against an army,” R ice wrote. “You will lose, and it won't be pretty.”On Saturday, Snoop Dogg posted a message on his Instagram that said he meant King no harm.

Winfrey says King not doing well after social media backlash

Winfrey says King not doing well after social media backlash

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Oprah Winfrey says her friend Gayle King is facing death threats following a social media backlash caused by an interview with retired WNBA star Lisa Leslie that concerned the late Kobe Bryant. On an appearance on “Hoda & Jenna & Friends” on Friday, Winfrey said King “is not doing well'' and has to travel with security because of threats. In the clip, King asks Leslie whether the 2003 case made Bryant's legacy complicated for her. Critics lashed out at King on social media for bringing up the old allegations. "I can see how people would obviously be very upset if you thought that Gayle was just trying to press to get an answer from Lisa Leslie,” Winfrey continued.

Bill Cosby's Been Behind Bars for a Year: Today on Inside Edition

Bill Cosby's Been Behind Bars for a Year: Today on Inside Edition

It's been one year since Bill Cosby went to prison. The disgraced comedian's spokesperson paid him a visit behind bars on the anniversary of his incarceration. Hear what he says Cosby told him. A cellphone found at the bottom of a murky river miraculously still worked over a year after it was lost. For more Inside Edition stories tune in to today's show.

Bill Cosby challenges prior victims' testimony in appeal

Bill Cosby challenges prior victims' testimony in appeal

These witnesses, including supermodel Janice Dickinson, are known as "prior bad acts" witnesses. In court, prosecutors said these witnesses showed Cosby had a common pattern or scheme in his assault of Constand. Montgomery County prosecutor Kevin Steele highlighted the "prior bad acts" testimony immediately after the verdict. "Everybody got to see who he really is when each of those prior bad act witnesses got to testify, he said. "This filing is an important step in ensuring that Mr. Cosby receives a hearing from a fair and impartial court," Cosby's spokesman Andrew Wyatt said in a statement.

Celebrity internet death hoaxes

Celebrity internet death hoaxes

Comedian and pudding enthusiast Bill Cosby openly joked about the first few Internet-spawned rumors of his death, but by the fourth one in the summer of 2010 he was done laughing. As the hoax picked up steam on Twitter, the comedian took to his own account to conform he was still alive, writing, "Again, I'm rebuttaling rumors about my demise." Hide Caption

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