Bill Cosby whistleblowers and their attorneys express outrage and betrayal at his release from prison

(CNN) – The news of Bill Cosby’s release from prison shocked many in the United States, especially those who denounced him.Cosby was released after Pennsylvania’s highest court overturned his conviction for sexual assault, saying his due process rights were violated in the first major case of the #MeToo era.

The reaction of the accusers and their lawyers to the announcement of this wednesday contrasts with the euphoria many of them felt in 2018 when the comedian was pleaded guilty of three counts of indecent assault aggravated by drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand at her suburban Philadelphia home in 2004.

Here’s what the women, along with their attorneys, have to say:

Andrea Constand

Constand was the central figure in Cosby’s criminal trial three years ago. Her stated that Cosby drugged her and assaulted her at his home in 2004.

Constand and her attorneys said Wednesday’s decision to overturn Cosby’s conviction is disappointing and discouraging for survivors of sexual assault.

“Today’s majority decision regarding Bill Cosby is not only disappointing, but concerning, as it may discourage those seeking justice for sexual assaults in the criminal justice system from reporting or participating in the prosecution of the assailant, or it may compel a victim to choose between filing a criminal or civil action ”.

Victoria Valentino

Victoria Valentino accused Cosby of raping her in the 60s.

I’m outraged! Outraged! Stunned! My stomach knots. The work we have done to advance women has been annulled by a legal ruling. Now we have a serial predator on the street, “he said.

Valentino said the ad came out of nowhere and described it as a hit to the stomach.

What does this say about the merit of a woman? The courage of a woman? Do our lives mean nothing? All the lives he damaged, not to mention our children and how we respond to our children and our personal relationships. It has impacted the lives of more than 60 women.

Valentino went on to say that when Cosby’s guilty verdict came in three years ago, she and other whistleblowers as well as the victims of other powerful men, such as Harvey Weinstein, they felt vindicated.

“So here we are, back where we started,” he said.

Janice Baker-Kinney

Janice Baker-Kinney accused Cosby of giving him pills and raping her in the 1980s.

She told CNN affiliate WPVI-TV that she is having a hard time assimilating the news of Cosby’s release.

“I am stunned, shocked and have a knot in my stomach … Legal simplicity can overturn this when so many people showed up … This serial rapist going home today is just awesome to me,” she said.

Lisa Bloom, Cosby Whistleblower Attorney

Lisa Bloom told CNN’s Ana Cabrera that she is “disgusted and shocked” by the ruling.

“The jury heard all the evidence, considered everything, convicted him, and now that this day has come I just think it’s a shame for all the victims,” ​​said Bloom, one of the attorneys.

“I’m glad you served some time,” he said, but it was only “a tiny, tiny measure of the justice I should have received.”

Bloom said she thought this Wednesday “was going to be a very tough day. I think it will be an event that will affect all those who have testified that he drugged and raped them.

He also tweeted and told CNN that Cosby’s release shows that the criminal justice system favors the rich and powerful.

“And that shows that if you have money and power in the criminal justice system and you can afford lawyers to fight and fight for years and years, in the end you can find a loophole and a way to get a conviction overturned, and that’s what what happened here, “said Bloom.

Gloria Allred, Cosby Whistleblower Attorney

In a statement obtained by CNN, attorney Gloria Allred said the following:

“This decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to overturn Bill Cosby’s conviction today must be devastating to the Bill Cosby whistleblowers. I especially sympathize with those who courageously testified in their two criminal cases. I represented most of the previous abuse accusers who testified. Despite the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision, this was an important fight for justice and although the court overturned the conviction on technical grounds, it did not vindicate Bill Cosby’s conduct and should not be construed as a statement or conclusion that He did not participate in the acts of which he is accused.

– CNN’s Eric Levenson, Sonia Moghe, Ray Sánchez and Kristina Sgueglia contributed to this report.