NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Conservative black group faults release of Cosby documents

PHILADELPHIA

A black conservative leadership group is criticizing the federal judge who unsealed portions of Bill Cosby’s deposition in a sexual-assault lawsuit.

Project 21 is sponsored by the Washington-based National Center for Public Policy Research. It says Cosby’s public statements about parenthood, crime and other issues shouldn’t have played a part in the decision.

Project 21 says the documents should be sealed or unsealed based solely on “legal reasons, not due to Cosby’s beliefs.”

U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno said in Monday’s ruling in Philadelphia that he unsealed the 2005 documents because local court rules favor transparency.

Judge Robreno said Cosby’s claims of embarrassment were insufficient legal grounds to keep the documents sealed.

He also said Cosby “voluntarily narrowed [his] zone of privacy” when he used the media “soap box” to comment on other people’s behavior.

Teen who tried to charge phone on stage says he’s sorry

NEW YORK

The New York teen who bizarrely clambered onto a Broadway stage earlier this month to try to recharge his phone apologized Friday, blaming ignorance and alcohol.

Nick Silvestri, of Seaford, N.Y., had a press conference outside the Booth Theatre, where he had to be pulled off the stage by ushers July 2 moments before the play “Hand to God” started. He said it wasn’t a stunt, even though his buddy took video of the attempt. He called it just bad decision-making.

“Ultimately, before coming to see ‘Hand to God,’ I downed a few drinks, and I think that clearly impaired my judgment,” said Silvestri, 19. “Before the show started, I noticed that my phone’s battery was low, and the only power outlet I saw was on stage.”

The attempt to recharge was, in the end, pointless: The onstage outlet was just a prop, created by Tony Award-winner Beowulf Boritt, whose set is a depiction of a church basement.

“I didn’t know the stage is considered off limits,” Silvestri said, adding he felt terrible for the actors. He vowed never to get onstage again “unless I decide to be an actor.”

Associated Press