cosby has denied all of the allegations. this was the moment that bill cosby walked out of the montgomery county correctional facility. it came after a ruling of pennsylvania's high court, that threw out cosby's conviction, thrown out because of a technicality. cosby was convicted for drugging and assaulting andrea constand. she says he assaulted her in 2004 after she came to him for advice. today, the supreme court ruled that cosby should have never been tried because the d.a. at the time promised not to try cosby criminally. so, from prison, for nearly three years, tonight, bill cosby is back home. that slow walk with some of his advisers, making a brief appearance, cosby did, for the cameras, in front of his home. he did not make a statement. but his spokesperson and lawyers did. >> it's over. as far as we understand it. the high court, vacated the conviction. discharged him. they saw it the way we saw it, that we believed that he never should have been prosecuted. there was an agreement made. he relied on that agreement.

we're going to talk about bill cosby tonight. bill cosby is a free man and the women who accuse him and spoke out about what they say the star who was once known as america's dad did to them, many of whom i spoke to over the years are shocked tonight wondering how this could happen. he is back at his pennsylvania home thanks to a surprise ruling from pennsylvania supreme court vacating his 2018 conviction for sexual assault. cosby had been sentenced to up to ten years in a state prison for drugging and sexually assaulting andrea constand at his home 14 years ago. he said nothing at a press conference outside his home today, just nodding his head as his publicist called his victory for americans treated badly by the judicial system. that's how his publicist described it. cosby later tweeted he has always maintained his innocence and thanked his fands. andrea was mentioned in statement calling the decision not only zoimtdisappointing but concerned and that it may discourage those who are sexually assaulted from participating in the

. >>> next at 5:00, bill cosby is a freeman. a bay area woman says she cannot believe the court overturned his conviction for sexual assault. >>> willie brown is applauding the court's decision. >>> president biden summit on the wildfire threat facing california and the west and his new promise to help. local firefighters say just in time. >>> the fear over fireworks. san jose says the danger is real people who have to pay for any damage. >>> a family that got covid from the delta variant, even though they were vaccinated. >>> we begin with video showing bill cosby getting out of a car and flashing the peace sign as people helped him walk into his home outside philadelphia. cosby was released from prison after pennsylvania supreme court overturned his sexual assault conviction in a surprise decision. good evening and thank you for joining us. i am ama daetz. >> you are watching live on abc 7 news. cosby was serving a 10 year sentence over a 2004 encounter. he was charged in 2015 days before the statute of limitation ran out. pen

cosby! >> reporter: tonight bill cosby is a free man, his conviction tossed out, his record wiped clean. he cannot be retried he appeared briefly before reporters outside his home >> today innocence came to mr. cosby. >> reporter:sby with sexual assault in 2015 was an affront to fundamental fairness, and the prosecution violated cosby's due process. late today, cosby calling into a radio show. >> this is for all the people who have been imprisoned wrongfully, regardless of race, color, or creed. because i met them in there. >> reporter: the 83-year-old was serving a three to ten-year sentence in maximum security prison after a jury found him guilty in 2018 of sexually assaulting andrea constand at the time, cosby's other accusers celebrated the verdict outside of court. >> i feel like i'm dreaming can you pinch me >> reporter: constand, a former temple university employee said cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in his pennsylvania home in 2004 cosby said the interaction was consensual

comedian bill cosby released from prison. bill cosby in front of the cameras outside of his home late today and on the phone with us just a short time ago. >> nobody had the sense to say, wait one second. this doesn't match up with the truth. >> at 83 years old, cosby walking free, hours after pennsylvania's supreme court overturned his conviction for sexual assault. the court ruling his fifth a dealitevious prosecutor should have prevented cosby from being charged and tried in the first place. his accusers stunned and angered by the decision. >>> deadly heat across the u.s. oregon reporting dozens of deaths due to extreme temperatures. new york city issuing an urgent alert to conserve electricity. severe thunderstorm watches now from maryland to maine. rob marciano timing it all out. >>> chilling new video taken just seven minutes before the deadly building collapse in surfside, florida. the possible clues for investigators. the death toll rising. and tonight, a survivor's haunting call from the night of the collapse. a sist

cosby.utting out a statement calling the decision, not only disappointing but, of concern. and that it may discourage those who seek justice for sexual assault in the criminal-justice system from reporting or participating in the prosecution of the assailant. or may force the victim to choose between filing, either, criminal or civil action. filing either a criminal or civil action. so, the fact is, the court didn't say cosby's accusers weren't telling the truth. they didn't say he's innocent, despite cosby -- cosby's claims. this was strictly procedural. b but it leaves so many women who publicly accused him of raping or assaulting them, at least 50 of them by cnn's count, it leaves them in shock. it does. i talk with some of them back in 2014 and their stories are devastating. >> but i could not move. i couldn't respond. and i remember feeling something warm at the side of my leg. and when i woke up, i just had a -- the hilton hotel robe on and no clothes. >> yeah. >> but before that, i ha

cosby i cannot say. do not think it was fair for him to be retried and to admit five witnesses who really were not there. when you put a witness on the stand, it has to be a witness that is relevant, that has information that bears on whether allegations are true. steve -these five people were not witness. they were witnesses to other instances being a legend, but those other instances where the subject of the trial. >> let's bring in david willis live in washington dc. there must be a mixture of astonishment and consternation that this trial is able to happen if the supreme court of pennsylvania says there were huge legal mistakes. >> it is a stunning reversal of fortune for a comedian once known as america's dad. >>'s prosecution was the first involving a celebrity in the so-called -- following the so-called #metoo movement. what has happened today is this ruling by the liberal supreme court has basically decided that because bill cosby reached an agreement with the local prosecutor that he would not b

in -- in cosby's neighborhood. where you have got people who have been, basically, feeling as though cosby was wronged. who feel as though this was something that was long overdue. but there were a lot of people out here. some folks out here from -- from the me too movement who really felt as though this was a miscarriage of justice. i spoke to one woman, just very quickly. she came out here. she was very vocal, very angry. once she saw cosby out here, she started crying. and said this was just not our day. john. >> jason carroll, on the scene. thank you, very much. >>> so if ever a court decision called for more discussion, this is clearly it. joining us, two former federal prosecutors. cnn legal analyst, shan wu. and cnn senior legal analyst, laura coates. laura, you -- you have had a chance to process, now, the pennsylvania supreme court decision. do you think it is reasonable or unreasonable, purely from a legal perspective? >> on a legally-procedural basis, the decision was actually reasonable. but, of course,

. >>> also, bill cosby is a free man. bill cosby is at home tonight released from prison following a stunning decision by the pennsylvania supreme court overturning his 2018 conviction of sexual assault. ruling prosecutors violated his due process rights. cosby served three years of a ten-year sentence. >>> and the bodies of two children found in the rubble of the collapsed building in florida bringing the confirmed death toll to 18. 145 people still unaccounted for. one full week after the condo tower came crashing down. a lot to get to. and this is new tonight. the trump organization and its chief financial officer, allen weisselberg expected to be charged with tax crimes. people familiar with the matter tell cnn that. the manhattan district attorney's office, building a case around perks awarded to employees and whether appropriate taxes were paid on them. let's discuss now, former nixon white house counsel john dean is here. john, good evening. good to see you. it's been way too long. let's get into this. the "washing

cosby, bill cosby, if we could come up there to talk to him. we were upstairs, in his bedroom, for about five minutes or so. he was wrapping up a conversation with someone. he seemed very excited, obviously, to be home, very comfortable. but his take away really, was he was glad that he had his freedom and said that this sends a message around the world. i know he just tweeted a very similar message, but that is what he focused on during that very short five minute with him today. >> o'donnell: all right, jericka duncan with that cbs news exclusive. thank you. and tonight, the dangerous and historic heat wave in the pacific northwest is slowly loosening its grip. but more than 50 million americans remain under heat alerts on both sides of the country. here's cbs' mola lenghi. >> reporter: life-threatening heat continues to bear down on both coasts, and the death toll is rising. officials in oregon have reported 45 deaths related to excess heat in one county alone. at the white house today, president biden warned of the dangerous conditions in t

had with the cosby. there was a

we have new reaction from cosby. plus one of his accusers will join us live. >>> a judge denying britney spears request to remove the conservatorship. over her. >> the bodies of two children found in the rubble as we see chilling new video of the condo collapse. me with friends, knowing you understand your glucose levels. ♪ ♪ you bring your best. we'll block the threats. cyberprotection for every one. malwarebytes ♪ every veteran family deserves to fulfill their dream of owning a home and to continue living that dream throughout their lives. at newday usa, we have va refinance loans to do just that. from refinancing to lower your monthly mortgage payments to refinancing and getting cash for your family. whatever you need, we're here. this isn't just a walk up the stairs. when you have an irregular heartbeat, it's more. it's dignity. the freedom to go where you want, knowing your doctor can watch over your heart. ♪ >>> after nearly three years in prison bill cosby is waking up at his home this morning a free man. penn

cosby at the playboy mansion.seal, in this second deposition, which we intend to take prior to trial, we intend to ask him many, many questions under oath. he is going to be compelled to answer them because he can't invoke his fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimi self-incrimination. >> ja ninice it's tony dokoupil takes a toll on a person to come forward in a case like this, it takes a toll on a person to testify at trial. i'm curious, knowing what you know about the outcome, would you come back and take the stand and what would you say to other women who may be hesitating in different cases right now? >> i would go back in a new york minute. coming forward, actually, was empowering, and it gave me strength to speak out, and it also gave me -- i received so much support that it's kind of like a pay it forward thing. i have -- i just want to help other people and not let him being released from jail, not to discourage other women or men from coming forward. i have no problem speaking my truth and i encour

and just like that, bill cosby was free. his car sped by the walls of the pennsylvania prison in which he'd serve 2 years of a 3 to 10 year sentence before arriving at his home in nearby norristown. after being helped from the car, cosby gave the camera signal v for victory. his attorney was similarly triumphant. i am thrilled and i am pleased at the pennsylvania supreme court. what we knew all along, which was that mister car being never should have been prosecuted, was driven by politics, were quite pleased that the pennsylvania supreme court seemed impervious to what is going on on the outside world. and all of that pressure that was placed on the criminal justice system from to me to movement help bring cosby on the scrutiny. he was one of a number of high profile men in show business accused of using their power to exploit and sexually assault women. but only one case against cosby went to court. the alleged drugging and malice station of andrea concerned. the crushing of that conviction has re ignited debate over the a

cosby that this was all consensual. it was not consensual to be drugged and assaulted. >> patricia, i know you will continue to use your truth as an example to others. i appreciate you coming on tonight and speaking to us. thank you. >> thank you. >>> still to come tonight, we have a lot of breaking news, including some tragic news in the search and rescue mission in the condo collapse in florida. two new videos, one captured minutes before the collapse. >>> also today's nearly unified effort by republican lawmakers to close their eyes to what happened on january 6th. what their vote against a select committee to investigate says and what that committee could actually do. >>> plus, what we know about the charges expected tomorrow against the trump organization and donald trump's top financial executive for three decades. ♪ i'm chi lan, i am a mom, and a real estate agent. after having a kid, everything that you used to do for yourself goes out the window. the lines that i was seeing in my forehead were getting deeper th

gloria allred who represented 30 of bill cosby�*s accusers said: bill cosby became known as america'sis role as cliff huxtable in the 1980s hit sitcom the cosby show. his conviction was seen as proof that even when the accused is one of the most famous people in the world, the voices of the victims of sexual assault could be heard in the us justice system. now, he has a chance to restore his reputation. michelle fleury, bbc news, pennsylvania. earlier i spoke to a divorce and trial lawyer, asking what she thought of the decision. none of us expected mr cosby to walk free today, but mr cosby waived his fifth amendment constitutional right against self—incrimination, with the belief and expectation that criminal charges would not be brought against him, and that is what the supreme court focused on, the fact that this case should never have been brought in the first place because of the deal that he entered into with the initial prosecutor, and it was inherently unfair, which is what the court focused on it — fairness. forthe what the court focused on it — fairness. for the second prose

so bill cosby, the woman sues bill cosby.bill cosby, peyser 3.3 8 million dollars and the case goes away. then in 2015. of somebody petitioned the court to unseal bill cosby's depositions their unsealed. now a new district attorney has has beaten all district and with this unsealed deposition he's like i'm going to prosecute bill cosby even though the prior district attorney of promise not to. so that pennsylvania supreme court said considered together these authorities obligate court still long prosecutors to their word to enforce their promises ensure that defendants decisions are made with all understanding of the circumstances. >> and to prevent fraudulent inducement some waivers of constitutional rights. which is what happened. >> so paul, we know that this case in particular now over turn can. prosecutors in pennsylvania. obviously there are other women who have come forward with their claims. can prosecutors go after bill cosby again for on charges involving another one of these alleged reno. >> no, absolutely not. bec

cosby. >> reporter: bill cosby is a free man, his conviction toss out, his record wiped clean, he cannots outside his home. >> today innocence came to mr. cosby. >> reporter: pennsylvania's supreme court ruled the decision to charge him in 2015 was an affront to fundamental fairness and the prosecution violated cosby's due process. cosby calling into a radio show. >> this is for all the people who have been imprisoned wrongfully regardless of race, color or creed. because i met them in there. >> reporter: the 83-year-old was serving a 3 to 10 year sentence in maximum security prison after a jury found him guilty in 2018 of sexually assaulting andrea constand. at the same time his other accusers celebrated the verdict outside the court. >> i feel like i'm dreaming. >> reporter: constand a former temple university employee said cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2004, cosby said the interaction was consensual. in 2005 the district attorney at the time, bruce caster, did not bring charges. caster testified that there was not enough evidence but instead he made a verbal agreement no

the former cosby show star return home lee today cosby who had served more than 2 years of a 3 to 10ison sentence was released on a technicality pennsylvania's highest court overturned his assault conviction citing his due process was violated that he did not receive a fair trial. this decision involved in part an ironclad deal. the 83 year-old had brokered with the prosecutor early on in the investigation that prevented him from ever being charged in this case that prosecutor said cosby statements would not be used against him in any way and that he would not be criminally prosecuted. cosby gave incriminating testimony in a civil deposition and was later charged in 2000, 15 and convicted of drugging and molesting his accuser. andrea constand following an encounter back in 2004 at his home. the current district attorney not only. >> we on that promise, but then used his own words against him. it is was fundamentally unfair was driven by politics and out. that's how we got here today. the pennsylvania supreme court also ruled that the testimony during cosby's trial was tainted since t

bill cosby became known as america's dad for his role as cliff huxtable in the 1980s hit sitcom the cosbyhow. his conviction was seen as proof that even when the accused is one of the most famous people in the world, the voices of the victims of sexual assault could be heard in the usjustice system. now, he has a chance to restore his reputation. michelle fleury, bbc news, pennsylvania. 0ne one of bill cosby�*s lawyers has told us that it was about due process. it was a strong contention he never should have been prosecuted as a result of an agreement he made with prosecutors, an agreement on which he relied when he waved his fifth amendment right to remain silent and sat for four daysin remain silent and sat for four days in the deposition, a deposition that the prosecution ultimately used against him. there were significant constitutional implications of those decisions, and this case really is about prosecutorial misconduct. we can now speak to michelle thomas, a divorce and trial lawyer. shejoins us thomas, a divorce and trial lawyer. she joins us from washington. good to have you wit

in a strongly worded 79-page opinion, the court ruled that cosby had been denied a fair trial. in an off camera interview, cosby told cbs news that this is about sending a message around the world that what happened to him was unjust, and he said now justice has been served. >> it did not vindicate bil cosby's conduct, and it should not be interpreted as a statement or a finding that he did not engage in the acts of which he has been accused. >> reporter: the actor's 1980s "cosby show" star phylicia rashad faced backlash after tweeting that a terrible wrong is being righted, later writing that she fully supports sexual assault victims coming forward. reporting from elkins park, pennsylvania, jericka duncan, cbs news. >> jericka went inside cosby's home theaterly after he arrived for a conversation with him. you can hear what he told her coming up on "cbs this morning." >>> and also on "ctm," we will talk with one of his accusers to get her reaction to cosby's release. >>> a judge has denied britney spears' request to have her father removed from her conservatorship at least for

cosby never asked for.hindsight we are happy he got it because he was able to pull the covers off the corruption in montgomery counter. >> the actress felicia schott who played cosby's tv wife tweeted "finally, a terrible wrong is being righted, miscarriage of justice is corrected. the decision a stunning blow to the more than 50 women who accuse cosby of drugging and sexually assaulting them, lawyers for constand writing that the ruling is not only disappointing but of concern and that it may discourage those who seek justice for sexual assault in the criminal justice system from reporting or participating in the prosecution of the assailant. it is important to stress that cosby's sexual assault conviction was overturned because of a technicality and not because of guilt or innocence. shannon. >> shannon: who we are going to dig into that later. bryan llenas, thank you so much. former president trump got a firsthand look at the current state of the border crisis today along with texas governor greg governo

s. committee and bill cosby is freed from prison after his conviction for sexual assault is overturned. on a legal technicality. the actor was jailed in 2018 for the drugging and violating a woman 17 years ago. as it is the most extreme heat waves the world has seen in many years. record breaking temperatures leaves for said in canada and the northwestern us to experts. it is clear, these are the symptoms of a growing climate emergency. ah, i'm sarah kelly. welcome to the program. china's president, she's in pain, has struck a defiant tone at celebrations, marketing the $100.00 the anniversary of the countries communist party and a major event since he had them. and where she called for the countries were unification with self war taiwan. he also warned that anyone attempting to bully china would quote, get their heads bashed observers. the comment says veiled threats to western countries that have criticized china for its human rights abuses and cracks down in hong kong. she's our long speech followed a military fly over canada police and patriotic songs in honor of the ruling communi

cosby had been in prison since 2018. i want to bring in bill cosby's former attorney. counselor, thank you for being with us. the court made no ruling on whether cosby did the things he was accused of. they didn't say the evidence and testimony was false. what they did say is the case should not have been brought at all because of a previous deal. your reaction to all of this this morning. >> yesterday was a great day for the cosby family and a great day for the justice system. there are two misconceptions floating around with what with the pennsylvania supreme court. first misconception is this was strictly a technical matter. not true. the first d.a. looked at the evidence exhaustively, got his staff together, investigators, police, they went through the evidence, they made a decision that this case did not belong in a criminal courtroom and for that reason he made an agreement not to prosecute and shifted it to civil court. the second misconception is this is never done. not true. my whole career we've been talking to prosecutors about trying to shift cases in crimi

some of bill cosby's other accusers reacting today.accuser. rosemary, now, rosemary connors now from nbc 10 philadelphia rosemary, now, she covers the trial for our local station, nbc 10 philadelphia. thank you, rosemary. what are the other women saying? >> well, shep, i was in that courtroom for both of cosby's trials and listened to the time of the accusers. it was raw the emotion was palpable and tonight, many of them are sharing their disappointment but making clear, today's decision was not about cosby's guilt or innocence told "the ap" today, quote, i just think it's a miscarriage of justice. this is about procedure, it's not about the truth of the women. another accuser, patricia, now 65, told "the new york times," she had been preparing for this possibility but was still stunned. saying quote, i'm feeling sad because this is absolutely a perceived loss on my part. now, many of these women and their supporters were at court, every day, during both trials. and so was attorney gloria allred who represented 33 of cosby's accusers earlier t

bill cosby is a free man. pennsylvania's highest court vacated his sexual assault conviction and they said something else. that you need to know because it's not being reported correctly. and it makes this even more controversial. the attorney who got the conviction thrown out, joins us next. this may look like a regular movie night. but if you're a kid with diabetes, it's more. it's the simple act of enjoying time with friends, knowing you understand your glucose levels. ♪ you need an ecolab scientific clean here. and you need it here. and here. and here. which is why the scientific expertise that helps operating rooms stay clean is now helping the places you go every day too. seek a commitment to clean. look for the ecolab science certified seal. i've got moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. now, there's skyrizi. with skyrizi, 3 out of 4 people achieved 90% clearer skin at 4 months, after just 2 doses. skyrizi may increase your risk of infections and lower your ability to fight them. before treatment, your d

but only one case against cosby went to court. the alleged drug and malice station of andrea concerned the crushing of that conviction as re ignited debate over the ability to hold a fair trial, made intense public pressure and of the efficacy of the me to movement in holding powerful men to account k j matthews is an entertainment journalist following the story for us from los angeles, california, k. j. good to see you again. we just heard bill cosby lawyer, they're healing those rolling as a major victory. but will this really be the end of his legal was you know, a lot of the legal analysts have weighed in, and a lot of people are saying he's 83 years old. this ruling pretty much in this part of the case. and i really don't see how any other charges can be brought forth. because even though there are dozens and dozens of women who have come forward stating they all these allegations against bill cosby, the district attorney at the time really didn't feel that they had enough evidence within the statute, limitations to prosecute

cosby, how you doing? >> reporter: now a free man, bill cosby didn't stay long at his pennsylvania home. leaving today to reunite with his wife. >> he will spend the next months with her they haven't seen each other in almost three years. >> reporter: according to his spokesperson andrew wyatt, cosby knew the pennsylvania supreme court decision was coming, but didn't know when. prison guards told him he was free at noon yesterday, unlocking the cell and opening the door according to wyatt, there were cheers from the other inmates. bill cosby came back home wyatt says they stayed up until 2:00 in the morning. the 83-year-old telling him he didn't want to go to bed. he was afraid all of this was just a bad dream. the philadelphia supreme court threw out the conviction saying cosby's due process rights were violated when he was charged with sexually assaulting and drugging andrea constand the alleged incident took place in 2004, but the district attorney at the time bruce castor decided there wasn't enough ev

bill cosby is a free man. pennsylvania's highest court vacated his sexual assault conviction and they said something else. that you need to know because it's not being reported correctly. and it makes this even more controversial. the attorney who got the conviction thrown out, joins us next. it's the simple act of enjoying time with friends, knowing you understand your glucose levels. ♪ ahhh! get out of here mouse. ahhh! ♪ don't flex your pecs. terminix. at carvana, we treat every customer like we would treat our own moms, with care and respect. to us, the little things are the big things. which is why we do everything in our power to make buying a car an unforgettable experience. happy birthday. thank you. we treat every customer like we would treat our own moms. because that's what they deserve. betty: honorary forest ranger betty white here lending a hand to my dear friend smokey bear because for years, he's only said... smokey bear: only you can prevent wildfires. betty: but there's a lot more to say. lik

pennsylvania's highest court overturning bill cosby's assault conviction. why the comedian what's known as america's dad is a free man tonight only s. >> and i couldn't believe that i was i don't have any words. i wasn't plus, we talk with one of cosby's accusers living right here in the bay area. why she says today's news is sickening kron 4 has team coverage on cosby's really sluss president biden promising significantly more wildfire resources to west coast leaders with another intense fire season already underway. good evening, everybody. thank you for joining us on kron 4 news a date. i'm pam moore. i'm jonathan mccall. 10 enjoying the night off today. the pennsylvania supreme court says. >> it made its decision from the fact that bill cosby was unfairly prosecuted. our grant lotus is here to get us started on this story with why the assault conviction was thrown out grant. pam, jonathan, thanks very much. well, nobody tonight is saying that cosby is innocent here, but the court ruled today that the conviction was. >> a quote, vast violation of cosby's

cosby said the act was consensual.the time bruce castor, who would later go on to be one of trump's impeachment attorneys did not bring charges. he testified there was not enough evidence, but instead he made a verbal agreement not to prosecute cosby if he gave a deposition in constand's civil case. they charged him ten days late e days before the statute of limitations expired. they say prosecutors broke a promise. cosby said this is justice, justice for black american. >> i'm disturbed, distressed that they where again exploiting our thirst for justice in his name. >> our thanks to nbc's stephanie gosk for that report. the district attorney who brought the case, kevin steel, said cosby was found guilty by a jury and released on a procedural issue. joining us, nbc legal analyst danny cevallos. thanks for being here. you say cosby was a unique special defendant who got a special version of justice. what do you mean by that and what do you think it means to the dozens of women who came forward and said that this man ass

gloria allred who represented 30 of bill cosby�*s accusers said: bill cosby became known as america'sor his role as cliff huxtable in the 1980s hit sitcom the cosby show. his conviction was seen as proof that even when the accused is one of the most famous people in the world, the voices of the victims of sexual assault could be heard in the us justice system. now, he has a chance to restore his reputation. michelle fleury, bbc news, pennsylvania. a little earlier, michelle looked at the wider implications of this case. i mean, i think this was a case at a time which was one of the first where you saw a man in a position of power being held to account for accusations of sexual assault. others followed. there was, of course, the famous case of harvey weinstein, the hollywood producer. his conviction is also being challenged by his lawyers, who no doubt will be looking at this to see, are there any lessons for them to learn that they can apply to mr weinstein�*s case? it's not clear. there seems to be very specific things that relate to this, and to this immunity deal that mr cosby had,

cosby put a message on twitter. he posted this picture with a statement saying in part, i have never changed my stance nor my story. i have always maintained my innocence. savannah? >> all right, stephanie, thank you. joining us now is kristen gibbons feden, a schedule prosecutor in the cosby's trials now an nbc news legal analyst. good morning. before we get into the particulars of the legal ruling, just your gut reaction when you found out that the court was vacating those convictions that you had helped to prosecute, and bill cosby was free within a matter of hours. >> honestly, i was shocked. i was in disbelief. my co-prosecutors stu ryan texted me and told me and i was just in complete disbelief. particularly since i thought there was no alleged agreement. he went forward. the common pleas court agreed with us. the superior court agreed. excuse me, the supreme court disagreed, but, yeah, i was just in total shock. >> the court's ruling does not touch on the issue of guilt or innocence. it turns on whether or no

but only one case against cosby went to court. the alleged drugging and malice station of andrea concerned the crushing of that conviction as re ignited debates over the ability to hold a fair trial and made intense public pressure. and of the efficacy of the me to movement and holding powerful men to account. casey matthews is an entertainment journalist following the story for us from los angeles, california. okay, take good to see you again. we just heard bill cosby lawyer there. healing those rolling as a major victory, but will this really be the end of his legal was you know, a lot of the legal analysts have weighed in, and a lot of people are saying he's 83 years old. this ruling pretty much in this part of the case, and i really don't see how any other charges can be brought forth. because even though there are dozens and dozens of women who have come forward stating they all these allegations against bill cosby, the district attorney at the time really didn't feel that they had enough evidence within the statute, limitati

in exchange for testimony in a civil case cosby would not face criminal charges. in a strongly worded 79 page opinion the court ruled that cosby had been denied a fair trial. in an off-camera interview cosby told cbs news that this is about sending a message around the world. that would happen to him was unjust and he said now justice has been served. >> it did not vindicate bill cosby's conduct and it should not be interpreted as a statement or finding that he did not engage in the acts in which she has been accused. >> you can see more of the interview with cosby tomorrow morning on cbs this morning. >>> emotional reaction from one of cosby's accusers that lives right here in the bay area. >> i thought he was just going to die in their with bread and water, i didn't care. he deserves to be in there. he just, he is evil. >> helen hayes was one of the first women to come out in 2014, accusing bill cosby of sexual assault. she says that back in the 70s the former actor and comedian stalked her and groped her. to watch the full interview you can go to our website, k

cosby was convicted in 2018. was the first high-profile sexual assaults trial in the aftermath of the #metoo movement which saw women speaking out. michelle, we saw bill cosby appear in public, he did not say much. but how are his legal team reacting? >> lawyers said this is justice being served. their client spent the last two years here. he was serving three to 10 years for three counts of sexual assault for drugging and molesting. that was the only case despite various accusers leveling charges over the years. the judge came out in pennsylvania's top court and said because of the deal he had reached with the previous prosecutor, the trial should never have taken place. laura: is there any reaction from the victim? reporter: we have not heard from her, but gloria allred came out and said she could not imagine how the accurs felt, especially those who testified. obviously as you point out, this was a momentous moment in the movement. it was a chance for women to speak out. for mr. cosby, this is an opportunity f

apparently cosby's legal team made a deal with the former prosecutor that cosby would not be chargedhe agreed to testify in the 2005 lawsuit accusers. cosby maintained his innocence on twitter. abc news legal analyst dan explains on gma why cosby's release does not necessarily mean he is innocent. >> this opinion says nothing about his innocence. there is no judgment from the court here about whether the allegations are true or false. it is only about this question about what the initial prosecutor had promised, a short the cosby team. >> dan talks more about the court's surprising decision that cosby cannot be retried in this case. you can watch that on gma coming up at 7. >> california just passed a milestone in the count -- bite against covid-19. more than 20 million people are fully vaccinated 51% of the state's total population including kids under 12 were not eligible for the shots. our test positivity is slowly rising in california and it is now at 1.3%. hospitalizations are back above 1000. officials continue to urge everybody to get vaccinated so that you are protected from

cosby agreed to testify in a civil case. and during that admitted giving quaaludes to a woman he was pursuing. that became key evidence in the subsequent criminal trial. the judges ruling that should not have been used, writing he must be discharged and any future prosecution on these particular charges must be barred we do not dispute that the remedy is both severe and rare, but it is warranted here, indeed compelled. they say he cannot be re-tried on these same charges. his attorneys said today he never should have been charged in the first place of the bill cosby came out of his house with his lawyers today, who talked to reporters there. cosby was silent but later gave an interview to a radio station. >> this is for all the people who have been imprisoned wrongfully, regardless of race, color or creed >> mm-hm >> because i met them in there people who talked about what happened and what they did, and i know there are many liars out there. >> his accuser in this case, andrea constand said she is disappointed and hope it i

and just like that, bill cosby was free. his scar sped by the walls of the pennsylvania prison in which he'd serve 2 years of a 3 to 10 year sentence. before arriving at his home in nearby norristown, after being helped from the car, cosby gave the camera signal v for victory. his attorney was similarly triumphant. i think i am thrills, and i am pleased to the pennsylvania supreme court. what we knew all along, which was that mister cosby never should have been prosecuted, was driven by politics. were quite pleased that the pennsylvania supreme court seems impervious to what is going on on the outside world. and all of that pressure that was placed on the criminal justice system from the me to movement help bring cosby on the scrutiny. he was one of a number of high profile men in show business accused of using their power to exploit and sexually assault women. but only one case against cosby went to court. the alleged drugging and malice station of andrea concerned the crushing of that conviction as re ignited debate over t

criminal case against cosby.at's why he's out of prison. are you surprised the state supreme court rolled with it? no, i'm not surprised at all. what the supreme court in pennsylvania did. they said it violated fundamental fairness. as you said, michael, what happened before castor the d a. then decided he could not prosecute constants case could not prosecuted so we don't have enough evidence. but i will help you in your civil case. if you want me to by telling the world and telling cosby i will not prosecute the government. will not prosecute. the government will not use anything you say at that deposition in the civil case against you, cosby went along with that he testified under oath at the discovery proceeding, and he gave him criminally in statements 15 years later changing of the guard new d a said, well, we have new evidence. we're going to go after cosby. we're going to use what he said at that deposition, and he did exactly that. he got a conviction, the pennsylvania supreme court said. you can't do th

cosby. >> reporter: bill cosby is a free man, his conviction tossed out, his record wiped clean he cannot be retried. he appeared before reporters. >> today reporter: the pennsylv supremt to fundamental fairness and it violated his due process. cosby calling into a radio show. >> this is for all the people who have been imprisoned wrongfully regardless of race, color or creed, because i met them in there. >> reporter: the 83-year-old was serving a 3 to 10 year sentence after a jury found him guilty in 2018 at the time cosby's other accusers celebrated the verdict outside the court. >> i feel like i'm dreaming. can you pinch me. >> reporter: constand said crosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in his pennsylvania home in 2004, cosby said it is consensual. at the time castro did not bring charges testifying there was not enough evidence but instepped made a verbal agreement not to prosecute cosby if he would give a deposition in a civil case that became what led the new prosecutor to file charges a spokesman for cosby said this is justice and justice for black america. one of the prosecu

sergio contonia has the story. >> 83-year-old business cosby stood outside his home.never spoke, but his team did. >> the women who accused cosby of attacking them, this decision is a shock and devastating. >> this feels like a loss questioning like what the last 43 years of this ordeal were about, if not for justice in the form we thought we found. >> what makes me sick is thinking about all of his reporters and the smugness that is bill cosby, going see, ha ha, we won. >> the prior district attorney agreed not to charge him on criminal trials -- >> there's nothing in this opinion that in any way mitigates bill cosby's guilt. he was convicted beyond a reasonable doubt by a jury of his peers. the only thing that changes is that trial never should have taken place because the government promised cosby it would not take place. >> the cosby case was the first high profile trial during the me too movement. >> i don't know what that means about the future of cases like this. i hope women won't become resigned and in despair like all of us were when we thought we were alone