Central Park Five Sue Trump for Defamation Following Presidential Debate

Five men, known as the Central Park Five, have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump. This legal action comes after Trump's false claim during a presidential debate that they had killed a person, despite being exonerated in 2002. The lawsuit seeks damages for reputational and emotional harm.

In a significant legal move, the five men historically known as the Central Park Five have launched a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump, stemming from comments he made during a recent U.S. presidential debate. The lawsuit, filed on Monday, challenges Trump's inaccurate claim that the men had killed someone, a statement that starkly contrasts their 2002 exoneration due to new DNA evidence and a confession from another individual.

The legal filing comes after Trump, the Republican nominee, mentioned at the September 10 debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, that the quintet had pleaded guilty to murder. This claim has been labeled "demonstrably false" by the men's legal team, led by attorney Shanin Specter. Among the plaintiffs is Yusef Salaam, currently serving as a New York City Council member.

Reacting to the lawsuit, a Trump campaign spokesperson dismissed it as a politically motivated attempt to interfere with the election. Specter countered this narrative, emphasizing that the suit aims for justice in a court of law rather than political retribution. The plaintiffs are pursuing damages for the reputational damage and emotional distress they believe Trump's comments have caused.

(With inputs from agencies.)