REFUSED: Federal Judge Allows Central Park Five's Defamation Lawsuit Against Trump to Proceed

In a powerful win for justice and truth, a federal judge has officially shut down former President Donald Trump's attempt to dismiss the defamation lawsuit filed against him by the Central Park Five — now known as the Exonerated Five.

This ruling is about more than just a courtroom victory. It's about accountability, truth-telling, and finally addressing decades of harm.

A Quick Refresher: Who Are The Exonerated Five?

In 1989, five Black and Latino teenagers — Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise — were wrongfully convicted in the infamous Central Park jogger case. Despite there being no physical evidence linking them to the crime, Donald Trump famously took out full-page ads calling for the death penalty against them.

Years later, DNA evidence and a confession from the real perpetrator led to their convictions being vacated in 2002.

But even after the truth came out, Trump never backed down.

What Happened This Time?

During a 2024 presidential debate, Trump once again spread falsehoods about the Exonerated Five — wrongly claiming they had "pled guilty" and "killed someone." Neither of those claims are true. In fact, not only were their convictions overturned, but the victim of the Central Park attack survived.

As a result, the Exonerated Five sued Trump for defamation, saying his lies damaged their reputations and caused emotional harm.

Recently, Trump tried to get the case thrown out. But U.S. District Judge Wendy Beetlestone wasn’t having it.

The Judge’s Ruling: Facts Matter

Judge Beetlestone ruled that Trump’s statements weren’t just opinions — they were factually false claims that can be proven wrong. And that means the lawsuit can move forward.

While she dismissed their claim of intentional emotional distress, the judge made it clear that Trump's words had real consequences.

Now, the Exonerated Five will have their day in court.

Why This Matters

This case is bigger than Trump.

It’s about the dangerous power of false narratives — especially when they’re used against marginalized communities who have already suffered injustice.

It's about what happens when powerful people refuse to admit they were wrong.

And it's about standing up and saying: Enough.

The Exonerated Five spent years fighting for their freedom. Now they’re fighting for their names, their truth, and their dignity.

And this time, the justice system is finally listening.

Stories like this remind us why we can’t afford to stay silent.

→ Share this post — Help set the record straight. Misinformation thrives in silence. Truth needs community.

→ Support Justice Reform — Follow and support organizations fighting for wrongfully convicted people, like the Innocence Project or local justice reform groups.

→ Stay Informed — Don’t just watch history happen — understand it. Learn about the Exonerated Five's story, their resilience, and their continued fight for justice.

→ Speak Up — When people in power spread lies — especially about marginalized communities — we all have a responsibility to push back.

Justice isn't passive. It’s collective.