Bill Cosby has spoken out from behind bars for the first time, declaring he has "no remorse" and comparing himself to "political prisoners" such as Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.
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The 81-year-old was convicted last year of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting his one-time friend Andrea Constand in 2004.
"Here's why I have no remorse and will never have remorse," he said in a statement.
"I was given a deal; I settled out of court for $3.8 million dollars; I waived my fifth amendment rights; I was declared not guilty in 2005 by the Commonwealth - never charged.
"However, a low-life district attorney and a corrupt judge needed me guilty now. Not for justice, but for their political aspirations."
Cosby was sentenced to three -10 years in Pennsylvania's Phoenix State prison, where he has allegedly been passing the time by 'treating patients' as his character Dr Cliff Huxtable from The Cosby Show.
Now, however, he's hailing himself as a martyr, drawing comparisons to historical figures like Martin Luther King Jr.
"My political beliefs, my actions of trying to humanise all races, genders and religions landed me in this place surrounded by barb wire fencing, a room made of steel and iron," he continued.
"So, I now have a temporary residence that resembles the quarters of some of the greatest political prisoners - Martin Luther King Jr, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Randal Robinson and Dr Benjamin Chavis.
"I stand upright as a political prisoner and I smile. The truth is strong!"
Cosby's spokesman Andrew Wyatt, who released the statement, told NBC News earlier this week that the former comedian is in "amazing spirits" despite being incarcerated.
Newshub.
