Obama on Bill Cosby controversy: 'That's rape'

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 15 July 2015

In a White House press conference that was arranged to discuss the Iranian nuclear deal, President Obama also fielded a question on whether he had considered revoking the Presidential Medal of Freedom that had been awarded to Bill Cosby, who has been accused by scores of women of rape. Obama said there was "no precedent" for such a move, but added, "If you give a woman, or a man for that matter, a drug, and then have sex with that person without consent, that's rape."

The president concluded, "I think this country, any civilized country, should have no tolerance for rape."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.

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