The Exonerated Five, formerly known as the Central Park 5, are taking legal action against Donald Trump over false statements he made during a recent presidential debate. The five men, who were wrongfully convicted in 1989, allege that Trump’s comments have further harmed their reputations. His remarks, broadcasted to a national audience, have sparked renewed scrutiny of their wrongful convictions and his previous public involvement in the case.
This report delves into the reasons behind the lawsuit filed by the Exonerated Five and provides essential context.
Details of the Exonerated Five’s Lawsuit Against Donald Trump
The Exonerated Five have initiated a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump for making misleading allegations during the Sept. 10, 2024, presidential debate.
Trump claimed, “They admitted — they said, they pled guilty. And I said, well, if they pled guilty they badly hurt a person, killed a person ultimately.” The lawsuit asserts these statements are “demonstrably false,” as the men never pleaded guilty, and the jogger involved in the 1989 incident survived.
In 1989, Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise were wrongly convicted of raping and assaulting a jogger in Central Park. Their convictions were overturned in 2002 when DNA evidence identified another man as the perpetrator. The lawsuit is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages due to the harm caused by Trump’s statements made during the debate.
Trump had previously taken out a full-page ad in 1989 advocating for the reinstatement of the death penalty, which many viewed as a direct attack against the Central Park Five. Notably, Salaam was present at the debate when Trump made his controversial remarks. In response, Trump’s campaign spokesperson labeled the lawsuit as “another frivolous election interference lawsuit.”
Attorney for the Exonerated Five, Shanin Specter, stated, “The most that we can obtain are monetary damages to compensate these five men for Mr. Trump’s damage to their reputations and to punish Mr. Trump for his statements.” Specter also mentioned that an apology from Trump would be “helpful,” though he expressed skepticism about its likelihood.
