The Central Park Five, who were wrongfully convicted in the 1989 assault of a New York jogger, have launched a defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump. The group, who were exonerated in 2002, is taking legal action over statements they claim Trump made during a recent presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.
According to the 20-page lawsuit filed in federal court, Trump made false and damaging remarks during the September debate, claiming that the men had pled guilty to the brutal 1989 assault and rape of a woman in Central Park, even alleging they “badly hurt a person, killed a person.” In reality, the men never admitted guilt and consistently maintained their innocence throughout the trial and after their release from prison.
“Defendant Trump’s statements were false and defamatory in numerous respects,” the suit reads, highlighting that none of the victims in the Central Park assault case were killed, and that the five teenagers, now all in their 50s, had their convictions overturned after new DNA evidence linked another individual to the crime.
The Central Park Five, whose wrongful convictions were widely publicized, were coerced into false confessions. They were cleared of all charges in 2002 and later received a settlement from the city of New York in 2014. However, Trump has long remained vocal about his belief in their guilt, even calling for the death penalty in a full-page ad back in 1989, prior to their exoneration.
The men are now seeking both compensatory and punitive damages, stating that Trump’s recent remarks have caused them severe emotional distress and further tarnished their reputations. As of now, Trump has not responded to the lawsuit.
See full court doc below:
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