Bill Cosby released: Actor speaks out on his ‘innocence’ after sex assault conviction overturned

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.

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:

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 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.

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.”

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.

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.

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 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”.

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”.