Cosby’s Lawyers Urge Appeals Court to Reseal Damning Testimony

The judges seemed to think the request was pointless, since the deposition has made headlines around the world.

Bill Cosby’s lawyers urged an appeals court to reseal the comedian’s lurid, decade-old testimony about his womanizing. (Photo: AP)

Bill Cosby’s lawyers urged an appeals court on Wednesday to reseal the comedian’s lurid, decade-old testimony about his womanizing, but the panel of judges seemed to think the request was pointless, since the deposition has already made headlines around the world.

Cosby’s attorneys hope a ruling in their favour could help them keep the documents from being used in the criminal case against him in Pennsylvania and in the many lawsuits filed around the country by women who accuse him of sexual assault or defamation.

Cosby gave the testimony in 2005 as part of a lawsuit brought against him by Andrea Constand, a Temple University employee who said he drugged and molested her at his home. She later settled for an undisclosed sum, and sensitive documents in the file remained sealed.

The comic known as “America’s Dad” admitted to obtaining quaaludes to give to women he hoped to seduce. (Photo: AP)

In the nearly 1,000-page deposition, the comic known as “America’s Dad” admitted to several extramarital affairs and said he obtained quaaludes to give to women he hoped to seduce.

The documents were released last year on a request by The Associated Press. US District Judge Eduardo Robreno found the public had a right to Cosby’s testimony because of his role as a self-appointed “public moralist” and because he had denied accusations he drugged and molested women.

In court papers, Cosby’s lawyers argue that the comedian had been assured confidentiality and that the “private and embarrassing testimony” would cause serious injury to the TV star, “who relies upon his reputation for his livelihood.”

Faced with a skeptical panel of judges, Cosby lawyer George Gowen argued Wednesday that there may yet be more ‘toothpaste in the tube’. But Ambro said it was already spit out and “down the drain.”

You’re asking us to put it back, and we just can’t do it.

<b>Judge Thomas L Ambro</b>

The judges gave no indication of when they would rule.