Bill Cosby is reportedly fearful that federal prosecutors will seek a sex trafficking and racketeering case against him.
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Cosby’s lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, attended a hearing to discuss her client’s concerns and request to invoke his Fifth-Amendment right against self-incrimination as reported by Baller Alert. Additionally, Bonjean argued that her client was not clear from criminal jeopardy due to the Showtime docuseries “We Need To Talk About Cosby” and also citing R.Kelly’s case as an example.
He also wants to avoid a follow-up deposition in his current case with accuser Judy Huth. Huth claims the comedian sexually assaulted her at the Playboy Mansion in 1974 when she was 15 and he was 37.
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LA County Superior Court Judge Craig Karlan did not issue a ruling after the deposition after the hearing. However, he is expecting Cosby to plead the Fifth.
“I don’t see the assertion as frivolous here especially given what happened in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Karlan said adding that beyond possible racketeering charges, Cosby could also face state prosecutors who might reverse course and present charges in a criminal investigation surrounding accusers whose allegations are not barred by statutes of limitations, Rolling Stone reported. Is there a reasonable fear of prosecution based on providing the information sought? The answer is: He does have a reasonable fear that he could be incriminating himself if, in fact, he provides the information and the statute of limitations have not run,” Karlan said. “I don’t see it as that close a call.”