Mark Makela/Reuters
Lawyers for comedian Bill Cosby filed a motion Monday to dismiss “illegally, improperly, unethically” sexual-assault charges lodged against him in criminal court, arguing that they violated an agreement that he would never be charged over 2004 sexual-assault allegations by a Temple University employee. That pledge prompted Cosby to testify in a related civil lawsuit without invoking his Fifth Amendment rights. Cosby’s lawyers also filed a motion to disqualify Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, District Attorney Kevin Steele, who they accuse of playing politics with the case to win an election. Steele filed felony sexual-assault charges against Cosby last month in part because of statements he made in the civil suit deposition. Cosby is set to appear in court Feb. 2 for a preliminary hearing.