Cosby accuser taking the heat I'm not a perfect person, she says
By NICOLE WEISENSEE EGAN weisenn@phillynews.com
It didn't take long. The day after California attorney Tamara Green went public with allegations that Bill Cosby drugged and groped her 30 years ago, Cosby's people began circulating dirt on Green. David Walk, a Cosby attorney, e-mailed reporters and producers a copy of a New York Post story from yesterday that discussed a 13-count state bar complaint filed against Green last March. A Cosby representative was also providing names and numbers of two California lawyers who he said had damaging information about Green. They did not return phone calls last night. Walk could not be reached for comment last night on why he e-mailed the story to reporters. David Brokaw, Cosby's publicist, declined to comment. Delilah Rumburg, executive director of the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, said any state bar complaint against Green is "totally irrelevant" to Green's claims about Cosby drugging and groping her. "It has absolutely nothing to do with this case," Rumburg said. "The question is, she has nothing to gain. So why would she come forward if it's not a true story? " She also said she thought publicizing the complaint is "inappropriate" and "unfair" and discourages future victims from coming forward, especially if they're making an accusation against someone high profile. "We cannot have open season on any victim that comes forward with a claim of sexual assault," Rumburg said. There has been no determination of innocence or guilt with the complaint against Green, said Kathleen Beitiks, spokeswoman for the State Bar of California. "The state bar investigated and determined there was enough evidence for formal charges," Beitiks said. "This is just the beginning of the process. " Green, a lawyer since 1988, was out of town and could not be reached for comment yesterday. In Tuesday's Daily News, she said she came forward with her story after Cosby's lawyer and the Montgomery County district attorney publicly cast doubt on the story of a Canadian woman who said Cosby drugged and groped her in January 2004. Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to charge Cosby in the Canadian woman's case. Green said she wanted her name used, even though she knew her personal and professional life would come under attack, to add credibility to her story. "If I duck and run, or hide and became an unnamed source, then people will not believe it," she said in a telephone interview last week. "It's not easy. I know people are going to say evil things about me. I've made my share of enemies in this life. If you practice law, there's somebody who didn't like you. But this is about backing up the woman and this story. "Women who take on powerful men are going to be beat up," she added. "They're going to take a terrible pounding from the fans of the great man. There will be leaks, digging into pasts. I'm not a perfect person, but I'm a great person. " Rumburg applauded Green for coming forward to support the other alleged victim, despite the consequences. "I think it means she's a very brave and courageous person, knowing from our past experiences what would happen to her," Rumburg said. "We need more people that will be strong advocates for standing up for the rights of victims." *
