Recently, the men formerly known as the Central Park Five, who were exonerated, have taken legal action against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. The group has filed a defamation lawsuit, alleging that Trump made false and defamatory statements about them during a presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. The group is seeking compensatory and punitive damages through a jury trial.
In the federal complaint, the group stated that Trump falsely claimed they had killed an individual and pleaded guilty to the crime, which they assert is untrue. The group's legal counsel emphasized that Trump's statements have caused them to seek to clear their names once again, as they were defamed in front of 67 million viewers during the debate.
While some may view the lawsuit as politically motivated due to the group's support for Harris, the legal team is focused on seeking justice through the courts. Trump's spokesperson dismissed the lawsuit as a frivolous attempt to distract from Harris's campaign.
The Central Park Five, comprising Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise, were wrongfully accused as teenagers in the 1989 Central Park jogger case. Despite confessing under duress, they later recanted and were convicted before their convictions were vacated in 2002.
Trump's involvement in the case dates back to his purchase of a newspaper ad advocating for the death penalty, which many interpreted as a call for the teens' execution. During the recent debate, Trump inaccurately portrayed the case, confusing guilty pleas with confessions and falsely claiming a victim had died.
The Exonerated Five, particularly Salaam, who is now a New York City councilman, have been actively campaigning for Harris and highlighting Trump's lack of apology for the controversial ad. They have also participated in a get-out-the-vote bus tour with civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton.
Previous defamation cases involving Trump have resulted in significant judgments against him, including a recent ruling in favor of advice columnist E. Jean Carroll. The legal battle underscores the ongoing repercussions of Trump's statements and actions.
