Five men wrongfully convicted in the 1989 Central Park assault and rape case, known as the Exonerated Five, have filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump.

The plaintiffs, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron Brown, and Korey Wise, were exonerated in 2002 after new DNA evidence and a confession from another individual emerged.

The Exonerated Five, now in their 50s, have consistently maintained their innocence since their trial and incarceration, having never pleaded guilty to the charges.

The lawsuit arises from false statements Trump made during a presidential debate, where he claimed the men had pleaded guilty and killed someone, despite their convictions being overturned.

Trump's campaign has dismissed the lawsuit as a frivolous attempt by left-wing activists to distract from political agendas.

The plaintiffs are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages through a jury trial, with amounts to be determined.

Trump has faced previous defamation lawsuits, including a notable case involving E. Jean Carroll, where he was ordered to pay significant damages.

Yusef Salaam attempted to speak with Trump after the debate regarding the false statements, but Trump declined to engage.

The lawsuit emphasizes that no one was killed in the Central Park assaults, directly contradicting Trump's claims.

Co-lead counsel Shanin Specter stated that Trump's accusations are demonstrably false, as the plaintiffs assert they never admitted guilt.

This is not the first time Trump has asserted the guilt of the Central Park Five; he has previously referred to their compensation as 'the heist of the century'.

Despite the significant evidence of their innocence, Trump has refused to apologize to the Exonerated Five since their exoneration.