Bill Cosby released: Actor speaks out on his ‘innocence’ after sex assault conviction overturned
Follow the latest developments as Bill Cosby is released from prison
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Bill Cosby remained silent as his legal team spoke during a press conference outside his house following his release from prison Wednesday, just hours after Pennsylvania’s highest court overturned his 2018 sexual assault conviction.
Speaking outside Mr Cosby’s home, his lawyer said the 83-year-old former television star is “feeling free”.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections said Mr Cosby had been released shortly after the state’s Supreme Court’s decision was revealed.
It comes after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that an agreement with a previous prosecutor, Bruce Castor - the attorney who represented former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial - prevented Mr Cosby from being charged in the case.
Mr Cosby had been convicted of drugging and molesting Andrea Constand, a Temple University employee, at his estate.
The former television star has already served more than two years of a three- to 10-year sentence at a state prison.
He had been prepared to serve out all 10 years rather than express remorse over the allegations against him over the 2004 encounter with Ms Constand.
It is unclear exactly when he will be released from prison following the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision.
Follow live updates below.
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live blog following the latest developments after a Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned former television star Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction.
Bill Cosby sexual assault conviction overturned
After nearly three years behind bars, Bill Cosby is a free man following a decision from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacating his 2018 conviction on three charges of aggravated in decent assault.
Mr Cosby had been convicted after being accused of drugging and having sex with a Temple University employee in 2004.
John Bowden reports on why the former television star’s conviction has been overturned:
Bill Cosby to be freed today after sexual assault conviction overturned
Cosby a free man after 2018 conviction is overturned by state’s highest court
Read full court ruling overturning Cosby’s conviction
In a ruling that has sent shockwaves across the US, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has overturned Bill Cosby’s 2018 sexual assault conviction.
You can read the full court ruling here:
Bill Cosby conviction overturned: Read the full court ruling
2018 sexual assault conviction against comedian has been overturned
Bill Cosby could be out of prison ‘in hours’
Bill Cosby could be released from prison within “hours”, according to reports.
In a tweet, MSNBC broadcaster Craig Melvin said Mr Cosby was expected to be “out of prison in hours,” citing a source.
Mr Cosby is set to be released from prison after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his 2018 sexual assault conviction.
Trump impeachment attorney played key role in Cosby’s conviction being overturned
Bruce Castor, former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment defense attorney appears to have played a key role in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Bill Cosby’s sexual assault conviction.
The found that an agreement with a previous prosecutor prevented Mr Cosby, 83, from being charged.
That agreement was with Mr Castor, according to the court’s decision, with reports confirming Mr Trump’s former impeachment attorney is the prosecutor named in the documents.
In a tweet, CNN’s Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins sought to eliminate any confusion, writing: “Yes, this is the same Bruce Castor who represented former President Trump in his impeachment trial.”
Cosby’s publicist to pick him up from prison ‘within hours’, report says
Bill Cosby’s publicist Andrew Wyatt is expected to pick him up from prison “within hours”, ABC News has reported.
Mr Cosby was set to be released from prison today after his 2018 sexual assault conviction was overturned.
The broadcaster reported that Mr Wyatt had confirmed he would be picking up his client shortly, bringing Mr Cosby’s time behind bars to an end after nearly three years behind bars.
Pennsylvania prison system says Cosby will be released ‘as soon as practical’
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections says it has received today’s court decision.
“Work is underway to complete the necessary paperwork,” the corrections department said in a statement sent to NBC.
“Mr. Cosby will be released as soon as practical,” it said.
Cosby Show co-star celebrates expected release
Phylicia Rashad, a former co-star on The Cosby Show, has celebrated the news of Bill Cosby’s imminent release from prison.
“FINALLY!!!!,” the actor tweeted. “A terrible wrong is being righted- a miscarriage of justice is corrected!”
Ms Rashad played Mr Cosby’s wife on TV for more than a decade in the show, with her work earning her multiple Emmy Award nominations.
Previously, she had said that she had never seen any behaviour from Mr Cosby that would lead her to believe he had committed the allegations against him.
White House has ‘no direct response’ to news Cosby will walk free
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has said she has no “direct response” from the White House on news that Bill Cosby will be released from prison after his 2018 sex assault conviction was overturned.
“I don’t have a direct response from the White House to that announcement,” she said, according to NBC News National Political Reporter Sahil Kapur.
Ms Psaki reportedly said, however, that President Joe Biden has, who has previously faced allegations of sexual misconduct, has “long been an advocate for fighting against violence against women”.
She also said Mr Biden is committed to “ensuring that we are raising the voices and stories of people who have been survivors”.
#MeToo trends amid news of Cosby’s expected release
The “#MeToo” hashtag began to trend once again on Twitter following news of Bill Cosby’s expected release from prison after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned his 2018 sexual assault conviction.
Mr Cosby’s conviction for allegedly drugging and molesting Andrea Constand, a Temple University employee, represented the first case of a major celebrity being convicted for sexual assault amid the rise of the #MeToo movement.
Sharing the hashtag, many expressed disappointment over the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision on Wednesday, while others offered words of solidarity to Ms Constand.
“Rage, solidarity and so much care to Andrea Constand,” Farrah Khan, a justice advocate wrote in a tweet, calling the situation “a mess”.
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