Trump’s Recusal Bid Granted by Judge in Central Park Five Defamation Suit
Trump’s lawyers requested the judge’s recusal due to the plaintiffs’ lead attorney’s disclosure of his long-standing friendship with the judge.
U.S. District Judge Michael Baylson granted President-elect Donald Trump’s recusal request in a defamation case filed by the exonerated “Central Park Five” against him on Friday.
Lead attorney Shanin Specter, representing the five plaintiffs, revealed on Nov. 13 his longstanding friendship with Baylson since childhood and previous representation of Baylson and his wife. Specter also mentioned hosting Baylson and his wife in his home on various occasions.
Trump’s lawyers argued that the relationship between Specter and the judge went beyond a normal lawyer-judge friendship, raising doubts about the impartiality of the proceedings if Baylson continued as the presiding judge.
“Recusal is necessary and proper—especially in a high-profile case involving a Presidential Debate and a President-Elect defendant, where public confidence in the judiciary is crucial,” stated Trump’s legal team in the filing.
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The five black and Hispanic teenagers, who were wrongfully convicted of raping and beating Trisha Meili in Central Park in 1989, filed a defamation suit against Trump on Oct. 21.
The lawsuit highlighted Trump’s false claims during the debate accusing the plaintiffs of murder and pleading guilty to a crime.
The plaintiffs were exonerated after Matias Reyes confessed in 2002 to acting alone in attacking Meili in Central Park. New York City later compensated them $41 million for their wrongful imprisonment.
Bill Pan contributed to this report.
