U.S. Navy Abandons Bill Cosby As He Takes On More Scandal

The United States Navy is publicly jumping ship — like so many others — in the midst of rape allegations thrown toward Bill Cosby by dozens of women.

According to the Associated Press, the Navy has announced Cosby will no longer hold the honorary chief petty officer title he received in 2011. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Stevens commented on the decision to take the honorary title away from Cosby on Thursday in a statement.

“The Navy is taking this action because allegations against Mr. Cosby are very serious and are in conflict with the Navy’s core values of honor, courage and commitment.”

According to People, Cosby first enlisted in the Navy in 1956. He served for four years as a hospital corpsman and then was honorably discharged in 1960. Cosby left the Navy as a 3rd Class Petty Officer.

The allegations of rape and molestation have destroyed some of Cosby’s television projects and several of his comedy performances. The 77-year-old comedian has been accused of sexual crimes occurring as far back as the 1960s.

Because the statue of limitations apply to most of the cases, Cosby has been publicly accused but cannot be justly prosecuted. Los Angeles police chief Charlie Beck said on Thursday that the department would investigate allegations of sexual abuse even if they could not be prosecuted.

“We don’t turn people away because things are out of statute. You come to us, especially with a sexual allegation, we will work with you. We address these things seriously and it’s not just because it’s Mr. Cosby.”

There were no investigations from the L.A. police department underway involving Cosby, according to Beck.

One alleged victim, Judy Huth, claims to have recently discovered that she suffers from psychological trauma stemming from sexual abuse she suffered from Bill Cosby when she was 15-years-old at the Playboy Mansion. California law would allow that case to be filed under those circumstances.

Cosby denies the situation and claims the individual is trying to extort money from him, according to the Guardian. His lawyer, Martin Singer, claims it is not the first time Huth tried to sell her story. He also claims there were no documents from a legitimate psychologist certifying her psychological conditions were just discovered recently.

Whether Cosby is tried in the court of law or not, the Navy is likely not the last to depart from Cosby in the middle of the scandal.