Pennsylvania Supreme Court Overturns Bill Cosby's Sexual Assault Conviction After Finding Prosecution Violated Cosby's Fifth Amendment Rights

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the sexual assault conviction of Bill Cosby today after finding that errors made by various prosecutors made his conviction invalid. Cosby, 83, had served two years of his 10-year sentence for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand in 2004.
"Cosby's convictions and judgment of sentence are vacated, and he is discharged," wrote the court.

The court found that a key piece of evidence used against Cosby—his 2005 deposition in Constand's lawsuit against him, in which he admitted to purchasing quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with—was given by Cosby after the prosecutor in that case agreed to not pursue sexual assault charges against Cosby. The court decided that using that deposition as evidence in the 2018 trial that led to his conviction had essentially violated Cosby's Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

Ironically, the prosecutor that made the deal was Bruce Castor, the lawyer who defended Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned Bill Cosby’s conviction after finding an agreement with a previous prosecutor prevented Cosby from being charged in the case.

The previous prosecutor? Bruce Castor aka Trump’s second impeachment defense attorney: pic.twitter.com/IuWrlUc0tF

— The Recount (@therecount) June 30, 2021

The court also found that testimony from other alleged victims of Cosby was immaterial to the Constand case, though a lower appeals court had deemed it fair to establish a pattern of behavior.

The decision appalled social media users, who viewed it as a failure of the justice system.

Essentially, the initial prosecutor promised to look the other way on, like, more rapes, which made Cosby talk. The PA Supreme is saying that Cosby was right to believe that prosecutor.
Court is not saying "Cosby isn't a rapist" it's saying "Prosecutors are allowed to not care."

— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) June 30, 2021

This is why the legal system will never be the solution to ending rape. It was founded on a system designed for and by rapist enslavers and their pals. And since then, the law has been designed to allow as much sexual violence as possible.

— Wagatwe Wanjuki 🇰🇪 🇧🇸 (@wagatwe) June 30, 2021

BILL COSBY IS NOT INNOCENT. HE HAS NOT BEEN EXONERATED. His release means that Cosby, a sexual predator, was incarcerated within a criminal legal system that has as little regard for its own rules and procedures as Cosby does for his victims.

— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) June 30, 2021

Bill Cosby, a serial rapist who showed no remorse will be released from prison, because of a technicality despite the fact that 50+ credible women accused him and he was found guilty in court. This is absolutely devastating. Fuck the entire system.

— Sophie Rae Lichterman (@why_sophie_why) June 30, 2021

Prosecutors have yet to comment on whether or not they will appeal the decision or seek to try Cosby again.