The Central Park Five, who now refer to themselves as the "Exonerated Five", have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump, claiming he falsely accused them of killing someone during a 1989 case that didn't involve any deaths, according to a report.
In 1989 five Black and Latino teenagers were wrongfully convicted of raping a jogger, Trisha Meili, in Central Park in New York City. Former President Trump took out full-page ads calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty, falsely accusing the group of murder.
The convictions were overturned in 2002 after DNA evidence and a confession from the actual perpetrator proved their innocence. Despite the exoneration and a $41 million settlement with New York City, Trump continues to call them guilty.
Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron Brown and Korey Wise are the named plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Salaam is a member of the New York City Council.
At a presidential debate on September 10, 2024, Trump once again falsely accused the men of the crime, in response to Vice President Kamala Harris' mention of the subject.
"Let's remember, this is the same individual [Trump] who took out a full-page ad in The New York Times calling for the execution of five young Black and Latino boys who were innocent, the Central Park Five," Harris said.
To which Trump responded with: "They admitted – they said, they pled guilty ... And I said, well, if they pled guilty they badly hurt a person, killed a person ultimately. And if they pled guilty – then they pled we're not guilty."
In light of this, the men have filed a lawsuit in federal court, alleging defamation, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress, CNBC reported. The suit argues that Trump's comments were made recklessly and without regard for the truth, causing the men further damage.
"Defendant Trump's statements were false and defamatory in numerous respects," the lawsuit states, according to CNN. "Plaintiffs never pled guilty to the Central Park assaults. Plaintiffs all pled not guilty and maintained their innocence throughout their trial and incarceration, as well as after they were released from prison."
The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, with an undetermined amount to be set at trial.
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