Bill Cosby listens to members of his team speak during a news conference outside his home in Elkins Park, Pa., Wednesday, June 30, 2021, after being released from prison. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Disgraced former actor and comedian Bill Cosby is now a free man after being released from prison. On Wednesday, Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court overturned Cosby’s sex assault conviction. The state’s high court ruled Cosby had been denied his Fifth Amendment rights.
This decision came after the district attorney chose not to criminally charge one case and Cosby later testified in the civil case related to those charges. However, the district attorney’s successor chose to move forward with criminal charges in that case and used Cosby’s testimony from the civil proceedings.
While arriving outside his home upon being released, Cosby was met with cheers by his supporters and legal team.
“Obviously, we are thrilled to have Mr. Cosby home,” stated attorney Jennifer Bonjean. “He served three years of an unjust sentence and he did it with dignity and principle.”
Attention: America. They are lying to you again. Here are the facts: Contrary to the reports that you have been reading in the media, Mr. Cosby was never charged nor convicted of rape. Mr. Cosby was convicted of aggravated indecent assault, for which he maintains his innocence. pic.twitter.com/XvGw0CZcsA
— Bill Cosby (@BillCosby) May 28, 2021
Once known as “America’s dad,” the 83-year-old was convicted in 2015 of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman back in 2004. While his conviction was overturned, Gloria Allredd, an attorney representing dozens of women who have accused the actor of sexual assault, noted the court’s decision does not clear Cosby’s name.
“Despite the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision, I want everyone to know that I do believe this was a very important fight for justice,” Allredd stated. “And even though the court did overturn the conviction, it was on technical grounds. It did not vindicate Bill Cosby’s conduct and should not be interpreted as a statement or finding that he did not engage in the acts for which he’s been accused.”
Cosby served more than two years of a three-to-10 year sentence.
Source: One America News Network
