Central Park Five Sue Donald Trump for Defamation Over Debate Remarks
The five Black and Hispanic men, widely known as the Central Park Five, were wrongfully convicted for the 1989 rape of a white jogger in New York’s Central Park. This high-profile case exposed deep issues of racial bias and wrongful convictions in the U.S. legal system. The group has now filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump, citing comments he made during last month’s U.S. presidential debate, in which he falsely claimed they had killed a person and pleaded guilty.
Wrongful Convictions and Exoneration
The Central Park Five—Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, and Korey Wise—spent between five and 13 years in prison before being exonerated in 2002. Their exoneration came after new DNA evidence and the confession of Matias Reyes, a convicted serial rapist who admitted to the crime. This case has become emblematic of wrongful convictions and racial injustice in the criminal justice system.
Trump’s False Statements at Presidential Debate
During the September 10 debate with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump made false statements about the Central Park Five, wrongly claiming they had killed a person and pleaded guilty. These claims, described as “demonstrably false” by the plaintiffs’ lawsuit, have sparked a new legal battle. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Philadelphia by the exonerated men, who have worked to rebuild their lives after their wrongful imprisonment. Notably, Yusef Salaam is now a member of the New York City Council.
Lawsuit Seeks Redress for Harm
The lawsuit accuses Trump of spreading false information, casting the men in a harmful light, and inflicting emotional distress. Shanin Specter, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, stressed that the case is about seeking justice, stating, “We are seeking redress in a court of law.” The plaintiffs are pursuing monetary damages for reputational and emotional harm, as well as punitive damages.
Trump’s campaign dismissed the lawsuit as “frivolous” and an act of “election interference” by what they described as “desperate left-wing activists.”
Trump’s Controversial History with the Case
Trump has long been associated with the Central Park Five case. Following the 1989 attack, he famously took out full-page newspaper ads in New York calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty. Despite the exoneration of the men in 2002, Trump has refused to retract his earlier statements. In 2019, he reiterated his stance, further fueling public criticism.
Trump’s Ongoing Legal Troubles
This defamation lawsuit adds to Trump’s extensive list of legal challenges. In another high-profile case, Trump was found liable for sexually assaulting and defaming writer E. Jean Carroll. A jury awarded Carroll $83.3 million in damages earlier this year. Trump is also appealing a separate $5 million verdict in the same case.
The Central Park Five lawsuit underscores the enduring consequences of one of the most notorious wrongful conviction cases in U.S. history and adds to Trump’s mounting legal battles.