DENVER — Colorado lawmakers heard testimony Thursday from two women who are among the 50 who have accused actor and comedian Bill Cosby of rape.
The lawmakers are considering a bill that would extend Colorado’s statute of limitations in sexual assault cases from 10 to 20 years.
The two Colorado women who have come forward to accuse Cosby of sexually assaulting them can’t have their cases heard under current law because the statute of limitations has passed.
“I am a survivor of being drugged and sexually assaulted by Bill Cosby in 1986 in Denver,” Beth Ferrier said.
Another woman, Heidi Thomas of Castle Rock, said she was sexually assaulted by Cosby 32 years ago.
“No one would have believed that ‘Mr. Jell-O Pudding Pop … Dr. Huxtable’ was capable of rape and sexual assault. I would’ve been laughed off the planet,” she said.
Cosby faces criminal sex assault charges in Pennsylvania. But Thomas and Ferrier said the courthouse doors in Colorado have been slammed on their attempts to seek justice because the statute of limitations is over.
They testified at the State Capitol on Thursday in support of a bill that would extend the statute of limitations in cases like theirs.
“I was too fearful to be able to go and report my sexual assault because of the power of Bill Cosby and not being able to feel that I would have a voice,” Ferrier said.
If the new bill is passed, it would not change anything for Thomas and Ferrier. But the sponsor of the bill, State Rep. Rhonda Fields, said it will help future victims.
“If you have experienced sexual assault, you don’t have to keep it to yourself anymore,” Fields said. “We believe you. We want you to come forward.”
The hearing continued into Thursday evening. It passed out of the committee and will move on to consideration in the full House.