Former stripper and convicted murderer Crystal Mangum has confessed to fabricating the 2006 rape allegations against three Duke University lacrosse players. This revelation, delivered during a jail cell interview with "Let's Talk With Kat," has reignited discussion about the devastating impact of false accusations.
Donald Trump reacted to Mangum's admission on Truth Social, criticizing her for the damage inflicted upon the lives of the wrongly accused athletes. Mangum herself stated that her false testimony stemmed from a desire for external validation rather than seeking truth and accountability.
The three players, David Evans, Collin Finnerty, and Reade Seligmann, were ultimately exonerated in 2007 after an official investigation revealed a complete lack of corroborating evidence. Despite their innocence, the players faced immense public scrutiny and reputational damage, described by their lawyer, Jim Cooney, as a "tornado of destruction." He emphasized the racially charged nature of the accusations, which further fueled the public firestorm.
The case also brought scrutiny upon Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, who was subsequently disbarred for his handling of the investigation, and former Duke University President Richard Brodhead, who apologized for the university's response to the situation and was later named in a lawsuit filed by the players. Due to North Carolina's statute of limitations on perjury, Mangum cannot be prosecuted for her false testimony. She is currently serving time for a separate murder conviction and has a history of other criminal charges, including arson.
