In a significant legal development, the men formerly known as the Central Park Five have filed a defamation lawsuit against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
The lawsuit, lodged on Monday, accuses Trump of making “false and defamatory statements” during a presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.
The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial for compensatory and punitive damages.
Background of the Case
The Central Park Five—Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise—were wrongfully convicted as teenagers in the 1989 rape and assault of a white female jogger in New York City’s Central Park.
The five men, who are Black and Latino, claimed their confessions were coerced. In 2002, their convictions were vacated after another individual confessed to the crime.
During the September 10 debate, Trump inaccurately claimed:
“They admitted, they said they pled guilty… if they pled guilty, they badly hurt a person, killed a person ultimately… And they pled guilty, then they pled not guilty.”
His statements were not only factually incorrect but also misrepresented the legal proceedings, as the jogger did not die, and no guilty pleas were ever entered by the five men.
Defamation Claims
In their federal complaint, the plaintiffs assert that Trump’s remarks defamed them in front of 67 million viewers, causing them to seek to clear their names yet again. Co-lead counsel Shanin Specter emphasized the significance of their legal pursuit, stating that they are “seeking redress in the courts” following Trump’s public statements.
In response, Trump’s spokesman, Steven Cheung, dismissed the lawsuit as a “frivolous, Election Interference lawsuit,” alleging it was an attempt by “desperate left-wing activists” to distract from what he termed Kamala Harris’s “dangerously liberal agenda.”
Historical Context
The case against the Central Park Five has long been a focal point in discussions about race, justice, and media representation.
Trump’s involvement dates back to 1989, when he took out a full-page ad in the New York Times calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty, which many viewed as a direct call for harsh punishment against the accused teens. This marked the beginning of Trump’s tough-on-crime political stance.
In recent years, the Exonerated Five have actively campaigned for Harris and have participated in civil rights initiatives, including a bus tour led by Rev. Al Sharpton aimed at mobilizing voters.
Previous Defamation Suits Against Trump
Legal experts note that prior defamation cases involving Trump have resulted in substantial awards for plaintiffs.
In a notable case earlier this year, E. Jean Carroll was awarded $83.3 million by a jury after Trump’s continued attacks on her allegations of sexual assault.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the outcome of this lawsuit may further spotlight issues of race, justice, and the impact of political rhetoric.
Who Are The Central Park Five And Why Are They Suing Donald Trump?
