Geraldo Rivera Apologizes After Praising Bill Cosby’s Jail Release

Geraldo Rivera appears to be backtracking after praising Bill Cosby's release after the comedian served nearly three years of his three to 10-year prison sentence before his conviction was overturned on June 30.

Cosby was found guilty of aggravated indecent assault in 2018 after drugging and sexually assaulting a woman named Andrea Constand in 2004 at his home.

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that District Attorney Kevin Steele failed to stand by his office’s promise not to charge Cosby with any crimes after the comedian gave an incriminating testimony during Constand’s civil trial.

Cosby’s conviction was overturned, and the court ruled that he could not be retried for the same charges. On Wednesday, Rivera praised the court’s decision and insisted the comedian never should have been prosecuted.

However, by Saturday, Rivera appeared apologetic for his comments and attempted to explain his perspective on Twitter.

“[I] Apologize to anyone offended by my defense of Constitutional process re #BillCosby. My main point-which will ultimately will be decided by #SCOTUS-is that just because you hate a defendant they have rights too. Unrelated, untested testimony of 5 ‘similar acts’ witnesses is wrong,” he tweeted.

Rivera’s apology came days after a discussion with Fox News anchor John Roberts during the program “America Reports.”

At the time, Rivera revealed he supported Cosby’s release and appeared to have sympathy for the disgraced comic. “How is he going to get back the two years that he has lost now?” he questioned.

However, when Roberts questioned how the overturned conviction could affect Cosby’s victims, Rivera appeared more focused on the letter of the law.

“Our hearts go out to these victims — they should have gone to the prosecutor when their cases were ripe for justice,” Rivera said.

“I am sorry they are not getting a sense of moral fulfillment now, or rehabilitation or repair, for the damage that this man probably did to them. But that’s not the way the criminal justice system works.”

Although Cosby’s 2018 trial only dealt with Constand’s allegations, nearly 60 women accused the comedian of sexual assault. Despite Rivera’s recent apology, it appears some people are still having trouble understanding his decision to support Cosby’s release.