Trump Doubles Down: Claims Central Park Five ‘Killed a Person’ Despite Exoneration, Calls Defamation Suit Baseless

In October 2024, the five men formerly known as the Central Park Five—Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Korey Wise, and Yusef Salaam—filed a defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump. The lawsuit alleges that during a presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump made false and defamatory statements, claiming the men had “killed an individual and pled guilty to the crime.” The plaintiffs contend that these assertions are demonstrably false, as they were exonerated in 2002 after serving years in prison for a crime they did not commit.

In response, Trump’s legal team filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that his statements were protected under the First Amendment as political rhetoric and were “substantially true.” They contend that the plaintiffs are misrepresenting constitutionally protected speech as defamation.

The Central Park Five were wrongfully convicted in 1990 for the 1989 assault and rape of a female jogger in Central Park. Their convictions were overturned in 2002 after the actual perpetrator, Matias Reyes, confessed to the crime, and DNA evidence confirmed his involvement. In 2014, they settled a lawsuit with New York City for $41 million.

This legal action highlights ongoing tensions between the exonerated men and Trump, who, in 1989, took out a full-page ad in The New York Times calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty in response to the assault. The plaintiffs argue that Trump’s recent statements perpetuate falsehoods about their involvement in the crime.

As the case progresses, it underscores the complexities of defamation law, particularly concerning statements made by public figures on matters of public concern. The outcome may have significant implications for how such statements are treated legally.