Story highlights

"I knew that someday, someway, something would break," Barbara Bowman tells CNN

More than 25 women have publicly accused Cosby of raping or assaulting them over the past 40 years

He has never been criminally charged and has vehemently denied wrongdoing

CNN  — 

Relieved but not surprised.

That’s how some of the woman who have accused Bill Cosby of rape reacted to news that he once admitted, under oath, to getting drugs to give to women with whom he wanted to have sex.

“At last we are being validated, and there is vindication,” Victoria Valentino told CNN’s “Erin Burnett OutFront.”

She claims that Cosby offered her pills and raped her. She didn’t talk about the experience publicly until decades later.

“This has opened the door for all of us to speak out against rape culture in our society,” she said.

“Just because someone is famous and wealthy and powerful does not mean he gets away with it. He doesn’t get to drug and rape women. And we don’t have to live with the shame and blame.”

In documents released Monday, Cosby admits to getting prescription quaaludes to give to women with whom he wanted to have sex.

The documents, dating back to 2005, stem from a civil lawsuit filed by Andrea Constand. She’s one of the dozens of women who have publicly accused the comedian of sexual assault. The records were made public after The Associated Press went to court to compel their release.

More than 25 women have publicly accused Cosby of raping or assaulting them over a period of more than 40 years. The comedian has never been criminally charged and has vehemently denied the accusations.

Efforts to contact his attorney for comment Monday were unsuccessful.

Like Valentino, Barbara Bowman and Beth Ferrier said they, too, felt vindicated by the new information. Both women claim that Cosby raped them.

“I’m not a liar. Barbara is not a liar. None of us are liars,” Ferrier told CNN.

Now will you believe Cosby accusers?

Shortly after Bowman penned a story about her experience in The Washington Post, the Cosby camp issued a statement.

“Over the last several weeks, decade-old, discredited allegations against Mr. Cosby have resurfaced. The fact that they are being repeated does not make them true. Mr. Cosby does not intend to dignify these allegations with any comment,” it read.

Bowman said she was relieved to feel that people were finally hearing her.

“I knew that someday, someway, something would break,” she told CNN. “It was quite a moment to say finally, finally, somebody is listening, and now everyone is listening, and knows the truth.”