Cosby Accuser Files Lawsuit Against Former Montco DA: Report

The former Temple student who accused Bill Cosby of assault has filed a defamation lawsuit against the Montgomery County district attorney who did not press charges, according to Philly.com.

When Andrea Constand alleged in 2005 that Cosby sexually assaulted her, the district attorney at the time, Bruce Castor, did not believe there was sufficient evidence.

Fast-forward to 2015: women from around the country have come forward sharing their stories about Cosby’s abuse. Castor is running to reclaim his old seat as county DA against current First Assistant DA Kevin Steele. Steele recently alleged in a campaign ad that Castor wasn’t tough enough on sexual predators because he didn’t prosecute Cosby.

But Castor rejects this logic.

“The information about all of Cosby’s alleged victims came to light after I left the DAs Office and lost the power to enforce the law,” he said.

Steele and current DA Risa Vetri Ferman are “overseeing the probe” into Constand’s lawsuit against Castor. Meanwhile, if Castor wins the election on November 3, Constand’s lawyer said they will not want to move forward with charges against Cosby.

“”How can we possibly trust him (Castor)?” Constand’s lawyer, Dolores Troiani, told Philly.com. “I don’t know how we could possibly do that.”

Castor blames Steele for what he sees as an overtly political move.

“The lawsuit filed today, seven days before an election, is the cheapest of Steele’s cheap campaign stunts,” Castor said in an email to Patch. “It is the act of a desperate candidate who is down in the polls and headed to defeat. It is totally without merit. Bruce Castor remains committed to a positive, issues-based campaign and that is exactly where our focus will be for the next week.”

Castor also points out that Steele has been the first assistant DA for the last eight years and no charges have been pressed against Cosby.

“Mr. Steele is still a prosecutor and could have moved against Cosby anytime after the additional evidence became available a year or so ago,” Castor added. “Yet he did nothing. Now the election rolls around and somehow it’s my fault? If he had been doing his job, and the the evidence was there, he could have arrested Cosby.”

In late September, rumors swirled that Ferman was seeking to press charges against Cosby. These charges could be pressed within the week, according to reports.

Cosby, in turn, has sought a criminal defense lawyer.

Image courtesy U.S. Navy, by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Andrew Meyers