Bill Cosby guilty of sexual assault
Comedian faces up to 30 years in prison for drugging and molesting a woman in 2004

The comedian and actor Bill Cosby has been found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault, following a retrial in a Pennsylvania court.
Cosby, 80, faces a maximum sentence of 30 years for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand in 2004. He is “likely to get less than that under state sentencing guidelines”, says the ABC, but given his age “even a modest term could mean he will die behind bars”.
The jury, made up of seven men and five women, deliberated for 14 hours over two days at the end of the two-week retrial, after the first trial on these charges ended with a hung jury just under a year ago.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Cosby stared straight ahead as the verdict was read out. Constand remained stoic, but there were “shrieks and gasps” from Cosby’s other accusers in the courtroom.
When Maryland district attorney Kevin Steele asked that the comedian’s $1m bail be revoked, arguing that he is wealthy and might flee on a private plane, Cosby “stood up and erupted”, says CBS News, calling Steele an “asshole” and shouting that he was “sick of him”.
Despite the outburst, the judge decided that Cosby can remain free on bail until his sentencing hearing, but he must not leave the state. A date for the hearing has not been set.
Cosby’s lawyer, Tom Mesereau, said he plans to appeal against the conviction “very strongly”, adding: “We are very disappointed by the verdict. We don’t think Mr Cosby’s guilty of anything and the fight is not over".
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
5 artfully drawn cartoons about Donald Trump's Epstein doodle
Cartoons Artists take on a mountainous legacy, creepy art, and more
-
Violent videos of Charlie Kirk’s death are renewing debate over online censorship
Talking Points Social media ‘promises unfiltered access, but without guarantees of truth and without protection from harm’
-
What led to Poland invoking NATO’s Article 4 and where could it lead?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION After a Russian drone blitz, Warsaw’s rare move to invoke the important NATO statute has potentially moved Europe closer to continent-wide warfare
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctions
The Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designation
The Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across Syria
THE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weapons
The Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarray
In the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month