Former President Donald Trump continues to fight his way through legal challenges. As a result, a federal judge has denied his request to dismiss the defamation lawsuit brought against him by the Central Park Five. That case, of course, is based on comments Trump made during one of the 2024 presidential debates in September. It focuses on the claims of defamation against five falsely accused individuals—Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, and Korey Wise—who were exonerated after being wrongfully convicted in the Central Park jogger rape case.
Central Park Five most recently filed their lawsuit in October 2024, arguing that Trump’s statements were false and damaging. In the 2020 election debate between Trump and Kamala Harris, he called the group guilty of doing murder and entering murder’s general plea of guilt. The organization vigorously rejects these claims. The men spent years in prison before being exonerated, and they argue that Trump’s statements have caused further emotional distress and reputational damage.
Judge Wendy Beetlestone ruled (pdf) that Pennsylvania’s very good Anti-SLAPP law does not apply in federal court. This ruling is a big step forward, allowing the case to move ahead. She stressed that the court is looking strictly at the plaintiffs’ claims. In doing so, it’s testing the constitutional limits of these defamation/false light/intention infliction of emotional distress claims.
“The only issue before the Court is whether Plaintiffs’ claims for defamation, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress (‘IIED’) can survive given Pennsylvania’s Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, otherwise known as its Anti-Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Statute,” – Judge Wendy Beetlestone
Back in April 2024, Judge Beetlestone denied a similar motion by Trump to quash the lawsuit. Since then, Trump has found it exceedingly difficult to wage this legal war. His public persona has increasingly been wrapped up in a series of artistic and personal provocations.
For the former president and now presumptive Republican presidential nominee for 2024, the timing of his legal problems couldn’t be worse. Aside from the Central Park Five legal battle, he’s been in the news lately for fighting the US government over NATO defense procurement agreements. He’s especially concerned with U.S.-E.U. trade relations. It is perhaps his comments on international matters that have generated the most media coverage. This includes his public musings on Iranian military operations and NATO spending targets.
The Central Park Five’s case sheds light on the horrific reality of wrongful convictions. It demonstrates the harm that such baseless and harmful accusations by public officials can cause. They deserve justice and they are fighting for it with this lawsuit. This bold attempt emphasizes the ongoing importance of holding individuals accountable for their public comments.