Cosby says racism ‘could be’ behind 60 sexual accusations

PHILADELPHIA — Comedian Bill Cosby said he doesn’t expect to testify at his sexual assault trial and suggested that racism “could be” behind the scores of accusations against him.

Cosby also said he thinks the approximately 60 women who have accused him of sexual misconduct came forward only after earlier allegations raised a decade ago died down.

“The piling on, so to speak, is a way and certainly an impressive way to get public opinion to come to the other side,” Cosby said.

Cosby spoke to SiriusXM radio host Michael Smerconish in a 33-minute segment broadcast Tuesday, less than a week before jury selection gets underway. Smerconish wrote on his Facebook page that he agreed to air audio from the Cosby family “only if I could interview Bill Cosby.” The program included about four minutes of recorded comments featuring statements from two of his daughters and an interview one daughter had with him.

Cosby, who turns 80 in July, said his lawyers won’t let him discuss the criminal case. However, he said he has “never, never” lost the support of his wife of five decades, Camille.

Daughter Ensa Cosby said she believes “racism has played a role” in the accusations against her father. Asked to respond, Bill Cosby said, “It could be.”

Another daughter, Erinn, said her father has been condemned “unjustly and cruelly” in the court of public opinion.

Bill Cosby described his health as generally good but said glaucoma has left him legally blind.

The jury will be chosen starting Monday in Pittsburgh.

Cosby is accused of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand, then a Temple University employee, in 2004 at his home.