New Bill Cosby revelations are 'devastating'

Bryan Alexander | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Deposition reveals extent of Cosby's efforts to entrap women The New York Times obtained the full 2006 Cosby court deposition. In it, Cosby talks about Quaaludes, seducing women and hiding it all from his wife. Video provided by Newsy

However bad things looked for disgraced comedian Bill Cosby, they somehow just got worse.

The New York Times posted a damaging story Saturday night citing Cosby's full deposition of 10 years ago from a lawsuit filed by a woman who accused the star of drugging and molesting her. While Cosby denied he was a sexual predator who assaulted numerous women, he does come off as an unapologetic playboy willing to use any method to pursue and bed young women.

"This deposition was particularly devastating," says Howard Bragman, vice chairman of the online reputation management website Reputation.com. "It was bad before. But anyone who had any doubts about Cosby's actions gets it now."

Excerpts of the deposition were first obtained July 5 by The Associated Press, which reported Cosby testified in 2005 that he obtained Quaaludes with the intention of giving them to young women he wanted to have sex with — and he gave the sedative to at least one woman and "other people."

Since then, even staunch Cosby defender Whoopi Goldberg has withdrawn her support.

"I've got to say all the information out there kind of points to guilt," she said on The View, adding, "It looks bad, Bill." Executives from Disney's Hollywood Studios announced July 8 the theme park would remove a bronze bust of Cosby on display.

But the Times report goes further, fleshing out the four days of intense questioning at a Philadelphia hotel during the Cosby deposition. The Cosby Show actor describes seducing a young model by showing interest in her father's cancer and promising women mentorship and career advice before pushing them for sex.

Cosby acknowledges he paid off women to keep his wife, Camille, from finding out about his philandering. At one point, he's rebuked by the plaintiff's attorney for his jocular attitude.

"I think you're making light of a very serious situation," attorney Dolores M. Troiani is quoted saying during the deposition. Cosby responded, "That may very well be."

That attitude is the most damning part of the new revelations, according to Bragman.

"It's particularly the callousness and the way he discussed these women," Bragman says. "(Cosby) didn't take it seriously. These are people's lives being discussed here. That's the truly unforgivable takeaway of this deposition."

Lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents a Cosby accuser, said the report on the full deposition was damaging.

"Cosby's testimony demonstrates how deceptive, manipulative and disgusting (he is)," Allred said in a statement. "It is no wonder that he fought to keep this deposition, which reveals his revolting predatory conduct, hidden from public view. But the truth is out now and it will never be hidden again."

The revelations aren't likely to lead to legal prosecution against Cosby because of the time that has passed since the alleged crimes, says Steve Sitkoff, a Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney and former senior prosecutor with the Los Angeles District Attorneys office.

"There's no way you prosecute now," Sitkoff says. "There's a six-year statute of limitations on these cases. I don't see it."

What the new revelations make known is "a guy who portrays himself as a moralist, but is anything but that," he says. "That's the rub."

Photos: Closer look at Bill Cosby