CLASH – Things got testy outside the #BillCosby trial between Cosby publicist Andrew Wyatt and an attorney for a handful of accusers, Gloria Allred. @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/f0rrobJP9C
— Joe Holden (@JoeHoldenCBS3) April 12, 2018
Attorney Gloria Allred got into a bit of an argument on Thursday with Cosby publicist Andrew Wyatt. This happened right outside the courthouse during the comedian’s sexual assault trial in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
“Explain to me, Ms. Allred, why did you ask for $100 million?” Wyatt said.
“I’m so glad you asked me,” Allred said.
“Why did you ask for $100 million dollars?” he said.
“But you need to listen, and don’t interrupt, okay,” she said.
“I’m not your child,” he said.
Cosby is on trial in the alleged drugging and sexual assault of Andrea Constand, but the state is using the testimony of several women, including model Janice Dickinson, to argue that the comedian had a pattern of committing sexual misconduct up to and including rape. Dickinson said Cosby raped her in 1980.
“I wanted to hit him,” she said in court. “I wanted to punch him in the face. I can remember feeling anger, disgust, and ashamed.”
Dozens of women have stepped forward with such claims, and five, in addition to Constand, will be testifying in this trial. Cosby’s defense is trying to use Allred’s past comments against at least one of them, however. The lawyer suggested in 2014 that the comedian should have a $100 million relief fund ready for his accusers, and that a panel of retired judges should sort out the claims.
In court on Thursday, Cosby lawyer Tom Mesereau used Allred’s proposed relief fund in an attempt to undermine Janice Baker-Kinney, another accuser testifying at the Constand trial. During cross-examination, he suggested that she stepped forward with a false claim in April 2015 because she was attracted by having a piece of the $100 million, according to The Associated Press.
Baker-Kinney pushed back on Mesereau’s suggestion, saying she wasn’t involved in litigation, and neither paid nor was paid by Allred. She said she only relied on the attorney for advice on dealing with the media, and as a point of contact.
Cosby’s defense argues that Cosby and Constand had a consensual sexual encounter. This is his second trial on the matter.
The first trial ended with a hung jury.
Correction: This article incorrectly stated that Dickinson was represented by Allred. She is actually represented by Allred’s daughter Lisa Bloom.
[Screengrab via Joe Holden at CBS3]
