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Gosar Targets Bill Cosby’s Medal of Freedom

Gosar is trying to help take down Bill Cosby (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Gosar is trying to help take down Bill Cosby (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., is attempting to assist in the removal of Bill Cosby’s Presidential Medal of Freedom.  

The Arizona congressman is holding a news conference on Thursday at 3 p.m. to promote his legislation affirming a mechanism for the president to strip the medal of freedom from the actor.  

In July, when asked about revoking the medal of freedom from Cosby, President Barack Obama said, “there’s no precedent for revoking a medal. We don’t have that mechanism.”  

The president added, “If you give a woman — or a man, for that matter — without his or her knowledge a drug and then have sex with that person without consent, that’s rape.”  

Gosar’s bill would also impose a criminal penalty on someone who publicly displays a medal of freedom that has been revoked. According to a statement, Gosar has been working on this bill since July.  

According to his office, Gosar works closely with Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment, PAVE, a D.C. nonprofit that works to prevent sexual assault, as well as help survivors.  

Cosby faces three felony counts of aggravated indecent assault. More than 50 women have accused him of sexual assault or attempted sexual assault.  

Cosby received his medal of freedom in 2002.


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