pennsylvania's supreme court has overturned his sex assault conviction and tonight, he is a free man. just hours after the court's ruling, cosby coming before cameras outside of his home, celebrating his release after serving more than two years of a three to ten-year prison sentence. cosby clearly elated to be back home. the man once known as america's dad last seen in public a little over two years ago after his conviction. dozens of women came forward to accuse him, but he was convicted for assaulting just one, andrea constand. cosby remained defiant, never acknowledged wrongdoing, passing up the opportunity for parole, refusing to participate in sex offender programs. today, the high court vacated his conviction, saying that he was a victim of a coercive bait and switch by prosecutors. abc's erielle reshef leads us off with the dramatic turn of evnts. >> reporter: tonight, bill cosby, a free man, back home, released from a pennsylvania prison just 12 days shy of his 84th birthday. moments ago, the comedian speaking to linsey by phone. >> and nobody had the sense to say, wait one s

we were awaiting this decision by the pennsylvania supreme court.ow we're going back to the judge in august, and he'll set either a date to finish discovery and/or trial date for us, and now, because of the decision today, don, mr. cosby is going to be compelled to give his deposition, and we're going to take that, and he was not going to be able to invoke his fifth amendment privilege against self-incrimination is the lawsuit that we filed. so we're looking forward to questioning mr. cosby under oath now. >> victoria, you know, he is out on a legal procedural issue, a technicality, so to speak, if you want to put it that way. this specific case cannot be re-tried. what does that mean to you? >> well, it's infuriating. absolutely frustrating, and i think it makes many of us rage inside with some impoe tent anger, because once against, women have been thrown under the bus, and a woman's worth has not been honored. there are over 60 of us who have experienced a lot of damage because of bill cosby, and even though we have him out because a t wasn't cro

special thanks to the pennsylvania supreme court for upholding the rule of law. hashtag bill cosby. y the pennsylvania supreme court vacated his conviction and judgment of sentence due to an agreement with another prosecutor and agreement which had prevented him from being criminally charged. if he agreed to sit down and testify for a civil deposition instead, which he did. but then fast forward about a decade later during the me too movement. criminal charges were brought against cosby. he was convicted of drugging and molesting his accuser. andrea, constant following an encounter back in 2000, 4 at his home. he was charged in 2015 when a prosecutor according to court documents a new prosecutor unsealed evidence from that civil deposition and arrested him and their decision. the pennsylvania supreme court said when the former prosecutor investigated the allegations of drugging and rape against cosby by constand back in 2000, 5 that previous da felt that quote, he would not be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that cosby drugged and raped constant. today. survivors and activist

thank god for the pennsylvania supreme court. they have courage, independence, intelligence and they did the right thing. >> what do you think mr. cosby will do going forward? do you expect him to take any legal action now? >> i have not talked to him about that. he just gottfried yesterday. it's a great day for the family. he went to his home. he was unjustly prisoned, unjustly tried and i haven't talked to him about anything like that. >> i do appreciate your time this morning. thanks so much for joining us. >> thanks for having me. i appreciate it. >>> joining us now is cnn legal analyst and civil rights attorney. thank you for being with us. your take on the decision and what you just heard? >> well, tom and i went to different law schools and went at different times but the law school i went to taught us that when a court doesn't reach the merits of a matter and makes a decision that isn't on the merits then that's a pro cedura ruling. there's been a lot of reliance by the cosby team on this so-called nonprosecution agreemen

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 ability to hold a fair trial. i made intense public pressure and of the efficacy of the me to movement and holding powerful men to account. right, right. when you're bringing k, j matthews and entertainment journalists following the story for us from los angeles. so i mean get it. what does this mean now the trial wasn't fair. yeah. you kno

that was at the heart of my objection the objection that i file than it in fact the pennsylvania supreme court did not hear the merits of the claim of the constitutional claim that pennsylvania had violated its own state constitution in allowing universal mail-in balloting to the supreme court specifically declined to hear it. they dismissed the on the ground on the procedural grounds and they violated their own dr. doctrine in doing so. that's not the only strange thing out of step with Élan pennsylvania. the state of pennsylvania supreme court which is part of the court. they elect their justices in pennsylvania on that court interfered -- >> senator i'm going to challenge you on saying they didn't hear the merits of the case because there was a lot that ruled that the case -- it's difficult for a court to rule on a discipline that doesn't exist. >> you can't have it both ways. you can't say they heard the merits. that's wrong. .. that is in violation of our president so they never heard the case, the only adjudication on the merits of the constitutional claim for lower court judges who foun

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 the ability to hold a fair trial and made intense public pressure. and of the efficacy of the me to movement in holding powerful men to account. right, right. when you're on that more than that, i'm not joined by my colleagues, god rock spur from the w culture. scott, does that mean that calls be trial? was unfair? well yes, according to the ruling o

court? >> reporter: it's a good question. if you listen to what the pennsylvania state supreme court was saying, one part of their decision was crystal clear. it said he must be discharged and any future prosecution on these particular charges must be barred. so essentially what that's saying in terms of criminal prosecution, if anyone was going to try to do that, it would have to be something that falls within the statute of limitation. many of these allegations are from the mid-70s and later. and in addition to that, it would have to be something different from the case that was just presented. so in terms of criminal prosecution, i think a lot of legal experts would say it's done, it's over. but in terms of civil prosecution, cosby is still facing, for example, a case out in california of a woman who is alleging that cosby sexually assaulted her when she was 15 at the playboy mansion back in 1974. so that case out there in california, that civil case can still go forward. but in terms of criminal prosecution, it seems like it's pretty much done. >> jason, i'm going to speak to one of bill kacosby's accusers just a moment,

and in the case of pennsylvania the supreme court had already dismissed the pennsylvania supreme court had had dismissed a republican lawsuit challenging those results. i want to ask you about comments you made in a local interview about a month after the attacks, you said that biden was duly elected. do you believe that biden is the legitimately elected president of the united states. >> yeah, i do, but let me go back for a second. you mentioned pennsylvania since you bring it up and that was the heart of my objection and that i filed. the pennsylvania supreme court did not hear or adjudicate the merits of the claim of the constitutional claim that pennsylvania had violated its own state constitution in allowing universal mail-in balloting. the supreme court specifically declined to hear it, they dismissed it on the grounds of procedural ground called latches and violated their own doctrine in doing so. that's not the only strange thing out of step with law in pennsylvania. the same supreme court in pennsylvania which is partisan, they elect them and-- >> senator, i'm going to step in

i would like to point out, as you pointed out at the top of the hour, that the supreme court of pennsylvania not determine that mr. cosby is innocent. it did not determine that mr. cosby did not commit this act against andrea constand. or against any of the other accusers. the court ruled on a procedural ground, that the state of pennsylvania is bound by the decision of a former prosecutor not to prosecute. and the court reasoned that mr. cosby relied, to his detriment, on the public statements of that prosecutor, that he would not prosecute. and that, mr. cosby, therefore, testified in civil cases, in a manner that incriminated himself. and so, the court held that it would be an injustice and a -- and a violation of his due-process rights to prosecute him, at this point. but that doesn't say anything about whether he's guilty or innocent. and i think that's an important fact for everyone to understand. um, the silver lining, in my opinion, about this -- this disappointing decision is that there are a number of civil cases that have been on hold, while criminal charges were pending against m

the surprise ruling by the pennsylvania supreme court makes bill cosby a freeman tonight.are going to dissected and discuss it. former president trump spent wednesday of its own border, hear what he is saying tonight about the crisis and who is to blame. we get in surfside, florida, with the latest on the search and rescue efforts in the rubble of the collapsed condo building. correspondent matt finn is on the ground in surfside. what can you tell us? >> shannon, it's shortly after midnight and this is still an active scene. officials have made it clear that the search and rescue is happening 24 hours a day around-the-clock care. the remnants of the champlain tower over my shoulder. we see crews coming and going as we get closer to the one week mark. the latest numbers this evening sadly 18 people now confirmed dead including two children. 139 unaccounted for. 125 accounted for. tonight we have a new survivor account for you. the person in the middle moved in the building in 2003. her dream was to retire on the beach. on the night of the collapse she woke up on the floor a

constitutional claim the lower court judges in fact there was a constitutional violation in pennsylvania. my view is that people pennsylvania cannot get their own supreme court to hear the case that the supreme unsightly pennsylvania constitution says mail in balloting is not constitutional and yet it happened anyway, then there is a problem. that is eight fit subject for debate in the united states congress. and ifco democrats couldn't object to 11 different surely republicans can object o to one? >> senator were going to move andre want to ask you again about your point about president biden but you say you believe he was elected. what is your message to americans who still do not believe he is elected president? >> is a duly elected president of the united states, this is that we have the certification process. we have that process a raid by objection other senators raise theirs we have a debate which was interrupted by the violence which is rightly being prosecuted now and condemned for condemned it at the time i do again now. if you are like me and the people of my state and you deeply disagree with the direction president biden is trying to take

his attorney was similarly triumphant thrills and i am pleased to the pennsylvania supreme court. what we knew all along, which was that mister car being never should have been prosecuted, part 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 molestation of andrea concerned. the crushing of that conviction as re ignited debate 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 for on that more and that i'm not joined by my colleagues called rock spur from d w culture. scott, does that mean that calls these trial was unfair? well yes, according to the ruling of the supreme c

the pennsylvania supreme court calling that decision fundamentally unfair.secutors and accusers say that doesn't change the underlying facts of the case while cosby's legal team is calling this justice. stephanie gosk, nbc news, elkins park, pennsylvania. >> new at 11:00, an investing app. robinhood has been fined $70 million for outages and misleading its customers. the statement regards the technical failures that robinhood experienced in march of 2020 as the stock market was in a nosedive amid the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic. now the largest penalty, the financial industry regulatory authority has ever lev need the organization that oversees the brokerage firm said that it fined robinhood $57 million and ordered the stock trading app to pay nearly 13 million in restitution to thousand of clients. as of today, pinterest is banning ads with weight los angeles wage and imagery. it's a policy shift that pinterest says make its first social media platform to ban all weight loss dieting and body-shaming ads. this update expands pinterest poll is that have

i am thrilled, and i am pleased that the pennsylvania supreme court, what we knew all along, which was that mr. coughing, never should have been prosecuted. part 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 move back 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 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

in the case of pennsylvania, the supreme court had already dismissed the pennsylvania supreme court had already dismissed a republican lawsuit challenging those results. i want to ask you about how much you made in a local interview about a month after the attack. you said that a biden was duly elected to predict do believe that biden legend legitimately elected president of the united states. see what i do let me go back in a minute, since you bring a pennsylvania. i was the heart of my objection, the objections that i filed in fact the supreme court of pennsylvania spring court did not hear or adjudicate the merits of the claim of constitutional claim that pennsylvania had violated its own state constitution and allowing universal male in balance and supreme court specifically declined it and dismissed it printed on the ground was on procedural ground that and they violated their own doctrine in doing so. that is not the only strangete thing out of step in the law of his when you predict the supreme court which is part of it, they let their justices in pennsylvania that court also int

>> well, that's what the pennsylvania supreme court decided. of course, there are issues as to whether in fact there really wall a deal, a non-prosecution deal, but they decided that the promise was made to not prosecutor, that mr. cosby relied to his detriment on that promise, when he testified in that case, he could no longer in invoke the right to -- because he was he answered questions, and the supreme court said he gave incriminating answers and statements which were used against him in the criminal case. they felt that was a violation of do due process. he is now a free man. there cannot be a further prosecution in pennsylvania, and i'm not aware of prosecutions anywhere else of bill cosby. that's the bad news for many survivors. the good news is we still have a civil lawsuit pending in l.a. county superior court in santa monica. we're going back to the judge in august to have a status conference. we have been awaiting this supreme court decision, and now the court will be ready to set a date for us to finish our discovery and perhaps to

you know, there are many locks on the way the pennsylvania supreme court did not exonerate crosby it made clear in its opinion. he cannot stand trial on the same charge. again. mike hanna, out to 0, washington. now the 1st nations community in canada has found a $182.00 unmarked graves. and besides of a former residential school for indigenous children, they would take, did. and cranbrook and british columbia school closed in 1970. and has since been converted into a golf course, the remains of what i believe to be more than a 1000 children have now been found at 3 different locations. at least 850000 indigenous children were forced to be sent to the schools and they are now cause to cancel kind of the national day or more than half of canada's residential schools were operated by the roman catholic church. but it hasn't apologized for its role. and to do this need is now planned to travel. the vatican in december did the, the anglican churches apologize, the presbyterian churches apologize, united church and apologized. and this is really part of truth and be part of the healing. an

supreme court did not comment on that. so this is not an opinion about cosby's guilt or not guilt in this case, right? this is the state supreme court in pennsylvaniahat about the u s supreme court? do you think prosecutors will appeal this to the u. s supreme court? you know, they made you that that's something that i'm sure they're going to explore. but my opinion will be that the supreme court will not take this case. they might, but i don't think so. this case will stand. cosby will live out his life unless other charges are brought in freedom. remember it is not a comment on whether he did this or not. it's a comment on what the prosecutor did in this case and how the prosecution used what they said. they wouldn't use. let me ask you about how we even got to this point. i'm curious about your take on the old d a. i mean lisa bloom today. lisa bloom being the attorney for three of bill cosby's accusers said that this is a slap in the face to all the victims out there and she emphasized, just as you said cosby is not innocent, right? she she still says that he did it. it's just an old prosecutor made this deal and made a mistake to get that civi

the pennsylvania supreme court throughout the 2018 sexual assault conviction on a technicality. >> they demonstrated that they were impervious to the court of public opinion. which, frankly the law was not. >> reporter: he was sentenced for up to 10 years for drugging and assaulting andrea constand, she was a former temple university sports administrator. the high court said cosby never should have been charged because of former district attorney made a deal with him. 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 reacti

todd: a stunning ruling from the pennsylvania supreme court letting bill cosby leave prison a free many spears's exclusive testimony wasn't enough to convince the judge in her conservatorship case, breaking down both cases next. a decision from the ncaa changed college sports forever, what it means for student-athletes. - i'm sure you've heard how grammarly improves your writing, but let me tell you how grammarly business helped my sales team. look at simon. since simon's team started using grammarly business, we've closed more deals. with suggestions to sharpen his writing clarity and overall confidence, simon's pitches always stick the landing, which leads to more of these and these. learn more at grammerly.com/business. jillian: back with fox news alert, president biden and the first lady will head to surfside, florida to visit with families of condo collapse victims. todd: ramping up to find those who are still missing. >> the president, will arrive, trying to give comfort as the default rises to 18. >> they will be thanking first responders and rescue teams and families forced to

special thanks to the pennsylvania supreme court for upholding the full of law.s was hours after the supreme court overturned his sexual assault conviction which he served 3 of the 10 years he was in 4, more than 60 women of accused him of sexual assault but his spokesperson said of his release is a beautiful day and a beautiful day also for women. his accuser whose testimony landed him in prison, returning released a statement saying today's majority decision regarding bill cosby is not only disappointing but of concerned that it may discourage those who seek justice for sexual assault the pennsylvania da responded to the decision to release him saying he hopes that decision will not dampen the reporting of sexual assault by victims. another shocking decision, a judge ruling against britney spears's request to remove her dad jamie from her conservatorship. that request was filed months ago, the judge's decision came after britney's explosive testimony in court last week, she said she shouldn't be in a conservatorship if she can work and provide money for herself

so that pennsylvania supreme court said considered together these authorities obligate court still longprosecutors 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. because the statute of limitations is run. and remember, bill cosby, the first trial was a hung jury and i'm not hung jury. the judge only allow one prior bad act in the trial. they allowed allowed 5 women to come and speak about bad acts needs bad acts were alleged to have occurred in the 1980's. so no, the statute of limitations has run as to any assaults that bill cosby committed in pennsylvania allegedly committed in pennsylvania or any other state in the

lester holt >> good evening, everyone bill cosby was whisked away from a pennsylvania prison today, a free man after the state supreme court suddenly reversed his sexual assault conviction in a case that became an icon for the me too movement the 83-year-old comedian and actor arriving at his elkins park, pennsylvania home, going inside later, walking before news cameras, arm and arm with his jubilant defense team, but saying nothing the court throwing out his conviction, saying prosecutors violated a deal meant to shield crosby from criminal prosecution. tonight many of his accusers crushed by the decision and the prospect he will not face another trial stephanie gosk leads our coverage >> we love you, mr. 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 peo

. >> 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 evidence to bring charges, compelling cosby to give a deposition in constand's civil case. >> i can sit there, do nothing and hope the case gets better, like get a confession, or i can try to find another way, another solution and i chose to find another way. >> reporter: but cosby's deposition was then used to charg

as the state supreme court looked at this, what was it they said that the court that made the original decision had overlooked? >> what the pennsylvaniareme court did, they construed one of his press agreements to be in agreement. normally, if you want to get past someone's fth amendment privilege, you offer them immunity. or you can do a nonprosecution agreement. a decision not to prosecute, that is something prosecutors do every single day, and to issue a statement, that is something that is routine. what the supreme court did in pennsylvania was to say that was in agreement, which was shocking because normally bill cosby gave up nothing but testimony in a civil case. judy: is there recourse for the prosecution? >> there really isn't stateside. had the pennsylvania supreme court suppressed the evidence, the damaging statements he made in the civil deposition, the district attorney's office could retry the case, but since they took it far instead there is an agreement not to prosecute, state prosetors have their hands tied. they cannot go after bill cosby anymore. there's a window possibility that the department of justice could char

special thanks to the pennsylvania supreme court for upholding the rule of law. hashtag bill cosby tonight we spoke with defense attorney paula canny, who is stressing how important it is for victims to still speak up and come forward. >> as a woman, we should stand up for ourselves at that instant that somebody crosses that boundary and does something wrong to us. we owe a duty to ourselves and other women to speak up and so my point is don't wait. don't wait year. don't wait 5 years. don't wait 10 years. don't wait 15 years we need to speak up and hold people accountable. now. >> cosby was the first celebrity tried and convicted in the me too era. so this reversal could make prosecutors more wary of taking on other similar cases live in the studio tonight. grant lotus kron 4 news grant, thank you. so far more than 60 women have come forward claiming that cosby attacked them. >> some of those alleged victims live right here in the bay area. kron four's, michelle kingston continuing our team coverage tonight talking with one of those alleged accusers who says she

pennsylvania's supreme court threw out the 83-year-old comedian's 2018 sexual assault conviction on a technicality. >> demonstrated that they were -- weren't impervious to the court of public opinion which the lower courts were not. >> reporter: he was served up to ten years for drugging and sexual assaulting andrea constand at his home a decade earlier. she was a sports administrator. the high court said cosby should never have been charged because a former district attorney made a deal with him. in exchange for testimony in a civil case brought by constand, 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 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

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, part 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 move 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 molestation of andrea concerned. the crushing of that conviction as re ignited debate over the ability to hold a fair trial. i made intense public pressure and of the efficacy of the me 2 movements in holding powerful men to account. katy 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 there, healing those rolling a

adjudication on the merits of that claim or lower court judges that found there was a constitutional violation in pennsylvania. if they can't get their own supreme court to hear the case, if the pennsylvanians constitutn says the mail-in ballots is not constitutional and yet it happened anyway, then there's a problem and that is a subject for debate in the united states congress and if democrats can object to 11 different states and certifications, surely republicans can object to one. >> senator, we are going to move on. i want to ask about the point of president biden. you said you believed he was elected. what is the message to those who still don't believe that he was? >> he was the duly elected president and this is why we have a certification process. i raised my objection and other senatorsec raised their objections. we had a debate that was interrupted by the violence that isch rightly being prosecuted n. i condemned it at the time but that process is over. the electoral votes have been counted and biden's president. now if you're like me and the people of my state and you deeply disagree with the direction he's trying to take this count

we begin with the decision from the pennsylvania supreme court that shocked the me too movement bill cosby is released from prison after the reversal of his sexual assault conviction. the court saying prosecutors violated a deal meant to shield crosby from criminal prosecution. >> reporter: francis, so bill cosby is back at home. a man once known as america's dad who became known as a convicted sex offender now has a clean record he's a free man. >> we love you mr. 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 pinc

pennsylvania supreme court ruled that the decision to charge cosby with sexual assault in 2015 was and the prosecution violated cosby's due process, cosby calling in to 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 served a three- to ten-year sentence in a maximum security prison after a jury found him guilty in 2018 of sexually assaulting andrea constand. at the same time other accusers celebrated the verdict outside the court. >> i feel like i'm dreaming. >> reporter: constand said cosby drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2004. cosby said the act was consensual. in 2005, the district attorney at 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 pro

they cannot retry it not after what the pennsylvania supreme court just said.st the particulars. >> this is stunning. not if you are a legal scholar, not if you have been following it. from a procedural perspective. smart people had questions early on, how did i know? i read michael smerconish, he had concerns years ago based on what you heard coming from cosby council. his insight landed him an interview with cosby while he faced trial. so, smerc is here to help you understand why yeah, you should be upset, but at who and why, next. ♪ sometimes you wanna go ♪ ♪ where everybody knows your name ♪ ♪ ♪ and they're always glad you came ♪ welcome back, america. it sure is good to see you. oh! don't burn down the duplex. terminix. at philadelphia, we know what makes the perfect schmear don'tof cream cheese.uplex. the recipe we invented over 145 years ago and me...the world's best, and possibly only, schmelier. philadelphia. schmear perfection. my auntie called me. she said uncle's had a heart attack. i needed him to be here. your heart isn't just yours. protect it wi

with similarly triumphant thrills and i am pleased with the pennsylvania supreme court. what we knew all along, which was that mister causing never should have been prosecuted. part 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 hash tag move and the, the me to movement helped bring cars. the under 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 village trucking and meliss station of andre a constant observance, say the outcome of the case needs context. basically a couple of years ago before he was actually charged, the older prosecutor, the previous prosecutor that is in the state of pennsylvania, asked him to come forward to give a deposition in exchange for that he would not re prosecuted as long as he told the truth, well, bill cosby came in, he spoke are considered ur

his sexual assault conviction was overturned by the pennsylvania supreme court wednesday, the court rule being saying that he was unfairly prosecuted. cosby thanked his supporters in a tweet saying he's always maintained his innocence. here is what he had to say after his release. >> did you ever think this day would come and sooner than most expected? >> yes. i don't know if you've ever seen the special on the fellow who shot martin luther king. there is an interview with the chief of police, and he says a guilty person knows more than anybody. well, i'm not guilty. >> many of cosby's accusers say that they are outraged by the ruling. one attorney representing several of the women called it a slap in the face. more now from jason carroll. >> reporter: walking free, bill cosby leaving prison after pennsylvania's highest court vacated his conviction. >> he said his heart was racing, he couldn't believe it. >> reporter: the 83-year-old now home after being released this afternoon. the court deciding that prosecutors violated his due process writes writing the subsequent decision by d.a. to

as we come on the air, the 83-year-old is out of prison and back at his home after pennsylvania's supreme court threw out his 2018 conviction for sexually assaulting a woman in the same house more than a decade ago. now, in a ruling that stunned prosecutors, as well as the dozens of women who have accused cosby of drugging and raping them, the state's highest court argued the entertainer's due process rights were violated when he gave incriminating testimony against himself during a civil case, testimony that was later used against him in court. now, cosby, the judges said, only talked because a previous prosecutor had agreed not to charge him. well, tonight, the former sitcom star is refusing to talk on camera, but in an exclusive offcamera interview just moments ago, cosby talked to cbs' jericka duncan. and gereeka is live outside of cosby's house in pennsylvania tonight. and, jericka, what did cosby tell you? >> reporter: well, put it frankly, norah, he basically said this is about sending a message around the world. he said that what happened to him was unjust, and that justice was served.

saying and thinking right now, today, your pennsylvania court overturned crosby's conviction and ordered his immediate release from prison. pennsylvania supreme court ruled that a prior agreement with a prosecutor bard cause b from being charged in the case. cosby was convicted in jail in 2018 for drugging and molesting a woman at his suburban estate. earlier i spoke to our bedroom, entertainment journalist key, j matthews, in los angeles. she told us what this ruling means for bill cosby. essentially, not only has he been released but he cannot be retried, remember the 1st trial against him ended in a hung jury. the 2nd trial into the conviction where he was giving anywhere from 3 to 10 years to serve. he's only served a little over 2 years of his sentence so so many people were surprised that he was being released and that he was being released so quickly. but what many people don't understand is why. and a lot of this goes back to the fact that his, his attorneys made an agreement with the prior district attorney in philadelphia back then stating that basically if you come in and give a deposition and tell us what you know and what you've

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. pennsylvania's high court ordered cosby's release after finding that he was denied protection against self- incrimination. they say a previous agreement with a prosecutor prevented him from being charged in the case. prosecutors say it also shuts down the possibility of a third trial. late today cosby made his first media appearance. abc 7 news reporter leon melendez has react on that and from a bay area accuser. >> reporter: one of cosby's accusers told us that she was on the phone this morning with a friend who asked if she would be willing to talk to some of the women who have come forward in the case against windsor. remember, dominic has been accused of sexual assault by nine women. a few minutes after she hung up, she received wo&