PA State Senator To Introduce Legislation To Limit 'Cosby' Deals

HARRISBURG, PA — A state senator from Bucks County will introduce legislation designed to limit the types of courtroom deals that led the State Supreme Court to overturn an assault conviction against Bill Cosby.

The legislation from Sens. Steve Santarsiero (D-Bucks) and Lisa Baker (R-Luzerne) would require all future non-prosecution agreements to be in writing in order to be enforceable.

The 83-year-old comedian and actor was freed from prison on June 30 following a decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which concluded that Cosby's rights were violated when potentially incriminating testimony given at an earlier civil trial in Montgomery County was admitted at a subsequent criminal trial.

Cosby was sentenced to three to 10 years in 2018 after being convicted of drugging and sexually abusing Andrea Constand inside his Cheltenham home in 2004. Justices ruled on June 30 that Cosby could not be charged due to an immunity agreement he had in place with Bruce Castor, then the Montgomery County District Attorney.

Santarsiero said the recent decision highlights the need for clearer rules regarding the prosecution of crimes.

“Requiring that non-prosecution agreements must be in writing will protect the due process rights of the accused, while helping to ensure that victims have access to justice,” Sen. Santarsiero said.

“This oral agreement turned into a horrible miscarriage of justice. We must act to prevent a repetition,” Baker and Santarsiero added.

The senators serve as the Republican and Democratic chairs, respectively, of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Related: Bill Cosby, His Accusers React As He's Released From PA Prison

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