Attorney of comedian Bill Cosby, who has been accused of sexual assault by several women, has slammed a leading news network for not using an interview, which challenges one of the accuser's claims.
Martin Singer has issued a letter to CNN citing 'reckless' investigation into accusers of the famous TV star, reported The Wrap.
In early December, Beverly Johnson came forward with accusations that Cosby drugged her during an audition for 'The Cosby Show' in the mid-80s in an essay for Vanity Fair.
In the letter to CNN president Jeffrey Zucker, Singer said that CNN decided not to use an interview with Johnson's live-in boyfriend from 2006-2009, Mark Burk, because he did not corroborate her story of being drugged by the 'Cosby Show' star for an upcoming special planned by the cable news network.
"We continue to be shocked by CNN's ongoing refusal to investigate and run balanced stories about my client," Singer wrote in the letter.
"While airing untested stories from accusers who have seemingly been subject to little or no vetting, CNN takes the opposite approach and with anyone who comes forward with information undermining accusers' claims or with relevant information supporting Mr Cosby," he added
According to Singer, CNN reporters interviewed Burk, who told them that Johnson had never made a negative comment about Cosby and even said she admired the TV star and saw him as a mentor during the time they lived together.
Singer has accused the CNN reporters of trying to 'manipulate and coerce' Burk into saying statements that supported Johnson's accusations. When he would not corroborate Johnson's account of events with Cosby, the reporters began attacking Burk and his background.
Burk offered to send supporting documents for his statements, but CNN ultimately decided not to use his interview, according to Singer. CNN representatives have not responded to the request for comment.
