The Central Park Five, now known as the Exonerated Five, have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump over his remarks during the presidential debate where he accused them of pleading guilty to attacking and raping a woman who later died. The men were actually innocent and were cleared of all charges, with the victim surviving the attack. Trump’s statements were deemed false and defamatory, causing the men emotional and reputational harm. The five, who were teenagers at the time of their trials, spent years in prison before being exonerated in 2002 through DNA evidence linking another man to the crime. The city later settled with the men for $41 million. The case was controversial due to allegations of coercion and intimidation leading to false confessions. The defamation suit was filed in Pennsylvania, with one of the men, Yusef Salaam, present at the debate where Trump made the statements. The men are seeking damages through a trial to rectify the harm caused by Trump’s false accusations. The case highlights the racial tensions and crime hysteria of the time, with Trump himself contributing by advocating for the death penalty through newspaper ads. The lawsuit is ongoing and updates are expected.
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Central Park Five Exonerated Individuals File Defamation Lawsuit Against Trump Over Debate Remarks
