Central Park Five sue President Trump for defamation following allegations made during presidential debate

The exonerated Central Park Five have filed a federal lawsuit against former President Donald Trump, accusing him of defamation during a televised presidential debate. The men, wrongfully convicted for the rape and assault of Trisha Meili, claim Trump knowingly spread false information with the intent to cause them emotional distress. The lawsuit alleges that Trump’s statements contained several falsehoods, as the Central Park Five never pleaded guilty and were convicted based on false confessions. Their convictions were vacated in 2002. The lawsuit seeks at least $75,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. Their attorney stated that the men are seeking to correct the record and clear their names. In response, Trump campaign communications director called the lawsuit frivolous, stating it is an attempt to distract from Kamala Harris’s agenda and campaign. The men, including New York City Councilmember Yusef Salaam, confronted Trump after the debate, with Salaam expressing disagreement with Trump’s statements. The lawsuit argues that Trump’s words were made with ill will and a disregard for their impact. The men seek justice for the harm caused by Trump’s statements and allege that he knew their innocence based on his social media posts about a documentary on the case.

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