Danny Masterson is blaming his legal team for bumbling his defense as he tries to appeal his 2023 rape conviction.
The That 70’s show Star claims its trial attorney, Philip Cohen, failed to call more than a dozen witnesses who could have supported his defense, according to a new court filing obtained by Page six on November 17.
Masterson states that Cohen only interviewed two of “more than 20 potential witnesses,” despite several having previously given statements to police and investigators.
He also claims Cohen ignored opportunities to challenge the prosecution’s focus on Scientology. According to the documents, Masterson claims that Cohen was advised by lawyers for the Church of Scientology to call on members to refute claims that the church intimidates women who report allegations – advice that he says Cohen did not follow.
The filing alleges that “the jury saw only the tip of the iceberg of the available defense evidence,” arguing that “a wealth of directly exculpatory evidence went unused for no viable tactical reason.”
Masterson was arrested in 2020 and found guilty of raping two women in 2023. He is currently serving a sentence of 30 years to life in the California Men’s Colony.
His legal battle has continued since his appeal in December 2024, with his lawyer Cliff Gardner arguing that “erroneous judicial decisions” and missing evidence “violated” Masterson’s right to a fair trial.
