Former Montco DA who didn’t charge Cosby backs out of debate
Montgomery County First Assistant District Attorney Kevin Steele, left, and Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce Castor are running to be the county district attorney. Castor backed out of a debate with Steele Wednesday.
Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce Castor, who declined to file sex-assault charges against Bill Cosby when he was district attorney, backed out of a district attorney’s race debate Wednesday, citing a family medical situation.
The debate, held at the West Main Diner in Lansdale, Montgomery County, was organized by WPNV-AM. Station personnel announced Castor had let them know he might back out Tuesday.
Castor has offered no additional information on the family emergency.
The Republican is running for his old job against Kevin Steele, a Democrat and top deputy in the district attorney’s. Steele had the floor to himself during Wednesday’s event, and he took that time to tear down Castor on the Cosby case.
“He is trying to conceal what he did in that case … by throwing a victim under the bus,” said Steele.
Earlier this week, Andrea Constand, who complained to Castor about Cosby in 2005 and then in 2006 settled a sex abuse lawsuit against Cosby, sued Castor for defamation. She alleges his comments about her were an attack on her credibility.
In the case, Constand said she has become “collateral damage” for Castor’s political ambitions.
Castor has said that her story changed over time, calling her account “inconsistent.” He has maintained that back in 2005, there was not sufficient evidence to prosecute Cosby.
A message left seeking comment from Castor wasn’t immediately returned Wednesday.
Associated Press contributed to this report.
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