Exonerated Five File Defamation Lawsuit Against Donald Trump
Five men wrongfully convicted as teenagers in the Central Park jogger rape case have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump. The lawsuit alleges that Trump made false statements about the men during a presidential debate, claiming they killed someone and pleaded guilty.
A Pattern of Extreme Conduct
The plaintiffs, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron Brown, and Korey Wise, claim that Trump’s conduct towards them has been part of a continuing pattern of extreme and outrageous behavior dating back several years. They are seeking damages of over $75,000, with total compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial.
The Central Park Five Case
In 1989, the five men were convicted of a series of assaults that occurred in New York City’s Central Park. They were between 14 and 16 years old at the time and spent years in prison after their convictions. However, in 2002, they were exonerated based on newly discovered DNA evidence.
Trump’s Involvement
Less than two weeks after the sexual assault on the jogger, Trump paid for a full-page ad in New York newspapers calling for the death penalty and criticizing the city’s handling of the case. Years later, when the men sued New York City for false arrest and malicious prosecution, Trump called the settlement a “disgrace”.
Presidential Debate
During a presidential debate in September, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris blasted Trump for taking out the ad and calling for the execution of the five men. Trump responded by saying that they had admitted to the crime and pleaded guilty, which the lawsuit claims is demonstrably false.
Previous Defamation Lawsuits
This is not the first time Trump has been sued for defamation. He was previously held liable in two separate lawsuits for defaming writer E. Jean Carroll, who alleged that he had raped her in the mid-1990s.
Seeking Justice
The Exonerated Five are seeking justice for the harm caused by Trump’s false statements. Their lawsuit is a reminder that public figures must be held accountable for their words and actions, and that the truth must be protected.
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