Donald Trump has reportedly been hit with a federal lawsuit from the members of the exonerated “Central Park Five,” now known as the “Exonerated Five.”
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More Details On The Central Park Five’s Federal Lawsuit Against Donald Trump
According to CNN, members of the exonerated Central Park Five filed the lawsuit against Trump on Monday, October 21. The group reportedly asserted that Trump made “false and defamatory” statements about them during his September presidential debate against VP Kamala Harris.
Additionally, the lawsuit asserts that Trump knowingly acted with “reckless disregard” when he spoke about their 1989 case. During the debate, Trump reportedly alleged the five men — who were then teenagers — plead guilty to raping a woman in Central Park. Furthermore, Trump alleged the group “badly hurt a person, killed a person” during the incident.
“Defendant Trump’s statements were false and defamatory in numerous respects. 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,” a portion of the suit reads, per CNN. “None of the victims of the Central Park assaults were killed.”
BREAKING: Exonerated 'Central Park Five' have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump over his remarks during the presidential debate last month.
During the debate he said: "They admitted — they said, they pled guilty. And I said, well, if they pled guilty they badly… pic.twitter.com/xHHf1cWOxu
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 21, 2024
Here’s What The Group Is Reportedly Seeking From The Former President
Per CNN, the group, which consists of members Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron Brown (formerly Antron McCray), and Korey Wise, is reportedly seeking compensatory and punitive damages from Trump. Additionally, the suit asserts that Trump’s recent statements placed them in a false light and caused them to “suffer severe emotional distress.”
ALERT: "Central Park 5" file defamation suit against Donald Trump
They allege Trump engaged in defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress w/ statements at Sept 10 Presidential debate in Philadelphia pic.twitter.com/ZRNrSSpjGW
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) October 21, 2024
Per TMZ, Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump has issued a statement in response to the suit.
“This is just another frivolous, Election Interference lawsuit, filed by desperate left-wing activists, in an attempt to distract the American people from Kamala Harris’s dangerously liberal agenda and failing campaign,” Cheung reportedly asserted. “The frantic lawfare efforts by Lyin’ Kamala’s allies to interfere in the election are going nowhere and President Trump is dominating as he marches to a historic win for the American people on November 5th.”
More Details On The Case Of The “Exonerated Five”
According to NBC News, a woman was running in Central Park on April 19, 1989, when she was reportedly assaulted and raped. Subsequently, the five teenagers were indicted for the crime. However, they maintained their innocence throughout the investigation and trial.
Despite this, the group was charged “with the assault of the female jogger.” Additionally, the group was also charged with “other assaults and robberies that occurred in Central Park,” per NBC News. At the time, Trump reportedly took out an ad in the New York Times calling for their execution, per TMZ.
Reminder: This was the full page ad Trump took out calling for the execution of the Central Park 5 in 1989.
Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise were exonerated.
Kamala Harris coming with the receipts. #Debate2024 pic.twitter.com/U2GWBQEXav
— Voto Latino (@votolatino) September 11, 2024
Per PEOPLE, each of the Central Park Five, or now “Exonerated Five,” spent between five to thirteen years in prison after being convicted. In 2002, the group was exonerated after DNA reportedly identified the rape suspect, per NBC News.
In 2014, the group reportedly sued New York City and won millions, per CNN.
