Cosby Reversal: 'Women Have Been Thrown Under The Bus'

Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision called "travesty of justice"

Overturning Bill Cosby's sexual assault conviction sends the wrong message, according to women — including those who have accused the disgraced comedian of sex crimes over the years.

Most of the incidents for which Cosby was accused of could not be tried criminally, because statutes of limitations had expired.

Cosby was convicted in 2018 related to accusations by one accuser, Andrea Constand.

Cosby was released from prison Wednesday after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that the result of an agreement he had with a prior prosecutor would have prevented Cosby from being criminally charged in the case.

Cosby, 83, served two years in prison prior to his release.

“I’m totally overwhelmed. When I got the call this morning, I felt like I was hit by a train. You know, he deserved to get what he did, because what he did was unjust. He’s out on a technicality, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s a predator,” said Cosby accuser Chelan Lasha. “And all of us girls are still suffering, some more than others, but it’s a travesty to justice to me.”

Other Cosby accusers voiced similar feelings regarding Wednesday's news.

“Well, it’s infuriating. Absolutely frustrating, and I think it makes many of us rage inside with some impotent anger, because once again, women have been thrown under the bus and a woman’s worth has not been honored,” said Victoria Valentino. "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 crossed or an ‘I’ wasn’t dotted, he is still going to be a pariah, he is still a rapist, he is still a sociopath, and he is still a predator.

“And we still have our voices. And we have stood in our truth, we have stood up and been strong in solidarity with each other, and we will continue to speak out,” Valentino added. “We will continue to inspire and support other women or men who’ve been raped, and hopefully encourage them to continue to speak and find their voices and find transformational healing.”

No vindication

Areva Martin, an attorney and media expert, said that she hopes that this Cosby reversal doesn't have a chilling effect on women coming forward with their own sexual assaults.

“This decision doesn’t vindicate him in the least bit. Nothing in the decision undermines the credibility of the testimony that was given by Constand. It doesn’t undermine the decision that was made by the jury in this case. Those three convictions were made based on the evidence that was presented during that trial. I think it’s a travesty of justice that the Supreme Court determined that Cosby cannot be tried again,” Martin said. “The prosecutors offered an alternative remedy. They said, 'Okay, let’s exclude the deposition testimony that the court found to be problematic, and let’s move forward with a prosecution of Bill Cosby without that testimony.' And the Supreme Court shut that opportunity down by the prosecutors.

“I think this case is troubling for black women. I think it’s troubling for all women who have been the victims of sexual assault and rape. We know that there was a turning point happening in this  country where women were feeling encouraged, they were coming forward, they were telling their stories, being believed,” Martin added. “And I just hope this case, this ruling, does not have a chilling effect on those women and that women keep standing up and they keep telling their stories.”