President Donald Trump’s attempt to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by the “Central Park Five” has been rejected by a federal judge, allowing the case to proceed in what could become a significant legal challenge for the former president.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone denied Trump’s bid to dismiss a defamation lawsuit filed by the wrongfully convicted “Central Park Five”.
- The lawsuit stems from statements Trump made during a 2024 debate with Kamala Harris, falsely claiming the men pleaded guilty and “killed a person.”
- The judge ruled that Trump’s statements could be “objectively determined” to be false, allowing the case to continue.
- The men, now known as the “Exonerated Five,” were wrongfully convicted of raping a jogger in 1989 and were fully exonerated in 2002.
- Trump’s legal team has called the lawsuit “baseless” and “a politically motivated attack” on free speech.
Judge Rejects Trump’s Dismissal Request
A federal judge has allowed a defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump to move forward after rejecting his request to have the case dismissed. U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone made the ruling in a case brought by five men who were wrongfully convicted in the 1989 Central Park jogger case. The lawsuit accuses Trump of making false statements about the men, including claims that they pleaded guilty and were responsible for a death, during a presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.
The judge determined that Trump’s statements could be “objectively determined” to be false, which is a key element in allowing defamation claims to proceed. Judge Beetlestone permitted the plaintiffs to amend their complaint and continue pursuing their case against the president. The ruling represents a significant procedural victory for the five men, who have spent decades dealing with the aftermath of their wrongful convictions and Trump’s public comments about their case.
President Trump must face Central Park Five defamation suit, judge rules https://t.co/f3BiJTawpM
— The Hill (@thehill) April 10, 2025
The Debate Comments at the Center of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit stems specifically from statements Trump made during a 2024 presidential debate. When former Vice President Harris mentioned Trump’s past actions regarding the case, including “a full-page ad in The New York Times calling for the execution of five young Black and Latino boys who were innocent, the Central Park Five,” Trump responded with comments that are now at the heart of the legal dispute.
“This is the most divisive presidency in the history of our country. There’s never been anything like it. They’re destroying our country. And they come up with things like what she just said going back many, many years when a lot of people including Mayor Bloomberg agreed with me on the Central Park Five. They admitted, they pleaded guilty. And I said, well, if they pled guilty they badly hurt a person, killed a person ultimately. And if they pled guilty – then they pled we’re not guilty. But this is a person that has to stretch back years, 40, 50 years ago because there’s nothing now,” claimed Trump.
The five men – Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Korey Wise, and Antron McCray – were teenagers when they were wrongfully convicted. They were exonerated in 2002 after DNA evidence and a confession from another man proved their innocence. The men have maintained that their initial confessions were coerced during lengthy police interrogations without legal representation present. Despite their exoneration, Trump has repeatedly defended his stance on the case over the years.
Trump’s Legal Team Responds
Trump’s attorneys have vigorously defended against the lawsuit, arguing that it lacks merit and represents an attack on free speech. Karin Sweigart, one of Trump’s lawyers, issued a statement following the judge’s decision to allow the case to proceed, emphasizing their belief that the entire lawsuit should have been dismissed under Pennsylvania’s anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) law, which is designed to protect free speech from litigation meant to silence critics.
The case now enters a new phase as it proceeds toward potential discovery and further litigation. The men, now commonly referred to as the “Exonerated Five,” have moved on with their lives in various ways – some pursuing civic engagement and political careers. Yusef Salaam, for instance, was elected to the New York City Council in 2023. The ongoing lawsuit represents their continued effort to address what they see as damaging falsehoods about their case that have persisted for over three decades.
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Trump Loses Bid to End ‘Central Park Five’ Defamation Case
President Trump loses bid to end Central Park Five defamation case
