Central Park Five lawsuit/ Trump defamation/ Exonerated Five/ Trump Harris debate/ wrongful conviction/ 2024 election/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Central Park Five, exonerated for a 1989 crime, have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump for false statements made during a recent presidential debate. Trump falsely claimed they had pled guilty to killing someone, despite their wrongful conviction being vacated in 2002. The group, now known as the Exonerated Five, seeks compensatory and punitive damages, highlighting Trump’s continued refusal to apologize for his past actions.
Central Park Five Sue Trump for Defamation: Quick Looks
- The Central Park Five filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump for false statements made during a debate with Kamala Harris.
- Trump wrongly claimed the group pled guilty to killing someone, despite their convictions being vacated in 2002.
- The group seeks damages, and the lawsuit reignites Trump’s long-standing history of spreading falsehoods about their case.
- The Exonerated Five continue to support Kamala Harris in the 2024 election and advocate for voter turnout with Rev. Al Sharpton.
Central Park 5 Sue Donald Trump Over Defamatory Debate Remarks
Deep Look:
The men known as the Central Park Five, who were wrongfully convicted of a brutal 1989 crime before being fully exonerated, have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump. The lawsuit was filed after Trump made inaccurate and damaging statements about their case during a presidential debate on September 10, 2024, with Vice President Kamala Harris. The five men — Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise — are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages for what they say were “false and defamatory” remarks by Trump.
During the debate, Harris referenced Trump’s history with the Central Park Five case, which triggered Trump’s response: “They admitted, they pled guilty, and I said, ‘Well, if they pled guilty they hurt a person, killed a person ultimately.'” In reality, the group never pled guilty, and no one died in the attack. Their convictions were vacated in 2002 after another person confessed to the crime, corroborated by DNA evidence.
In their federal lawsuit, the Exonerated Five argue that Trump’s statements were not only factually incorrect but also harmful, particularly given the high-profile nature of a presidential debate. They contend that Trump’s remarks continue to perpetuate false narratives about their case and damage their reputations. The group also points to Trump’s infamous 1989 full-page New York Times ad calling for the death penalty for the five teenagers, a moment that marked Trump’s entry into tough-on-crime rhetoric.
For years, Trump has refused to apologize or acknowledge the wrongful convictions, even after the five men were exonerated. The Central Park Five’s exoneration came when DNA evidence and a confession from the actual attacker cleared them of any involvement in the crime. Since then, they have become advocates for criminal justice reform, and Yusef Salaam is now a New York City councilman.
The defamation suit is being filed just two weeks ahead of the 2024 presidential election, during which the Exonerated Five have been campaigning in support of Kamala Harris. They have also joined civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton on a get-out-the-vote bus tour to mobilize voters, particularly in communities of color.
Trump’s Long History with the Central Park Five
Trump’s involvement in the Central Park Five case dates back to the original 1989 crime. Shortly after the attack, Trump took out a full-page ad in four major New York City newspapers calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty and targeting the five teenagers, who were Black and Latino. His inflammatory rhetoric at the time helped fuel public outrage against the young men, contributing to their wrongful convictions.
Even after DNA evidence exonerated them and their convictions were overturned in 2002, Trump refused to acknowledge their innocence. In 2016, when asked if he would apologize for his role in the case, Trump stood by his past actions and suggested the group may still be guilty, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
Legal and Political Fallout
This defamation lawsuit is not only a legal battle but also a significant moment in Trump’s political career. By making false statements during a presidential debate, Trump reignited one of the most controversial chapters of his past, reminding the public of his role in one of the country’s most notorious wrongful convictions.
The lawsuit also has broader implications for the 2024 election, as Trump’s remarks and refusal to correct them could impact his standing with voters, particularly those concerned with racial justice and criminal justice reform. The Exonerated Five, meanwhile, have used their platform to support Kamala Harris and urge voter turnout among marginalized communities, leveraging their story as a call to action against Trump’s brand of politics.
