Official statements or press releases from the Department of Justice

Trump Seeks Dismissal of Central Park Five Defamation Lawsuit Amid 34 Felony Convictions and Judge Juan Merchan's Oversight

Dec 12, 2024, 01:20 AM

Donald Trump has requested a federal judge to dismiss a defamation lawsuit related to his statements about the Central Park Five, a group of Black and Hispanic men wrongfully convicted in the 1989 rape case of a white jogger in New York. Trump's legal team argues that the lawsuit should be rejected, while Manhattan prosecutors, led by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, are opposing the dismissal and have stated that Trump's presidency should not influence the outcome of the case. Additionally, Bragg has noted that the sentencing for Trump's 34 felony convictions for falsifying business records could be delayed until after his second term. This comes amid broader discussions regarding the implications of accepting pardons from Trump, with the Department of Justice indicating that such actions could be viewed as an admission of guilt in related cases, including those tied to the January 6th events.