A new lawsuit filed in New York accuses former New York Yankees star Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara Rivera, of ignoring and covering up the sexual abuse of a minor at their church and home.
The victim, identified as “Jane Doe,” alleges she was sexually abused by an older female minor, “MG,” during a 2018 summer internship program at Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida. The program was affiliated with Rivera’s Refuge of Hope Church in New Rochelle, New York.
Jane Doe claims the abuse occurred during the internship and later at the Riveras’ home during a summer barbecue. According to the lawsuit, the Riveras were aware of the risks posed by MG but failed to act. The victim’s mother reportedly informed Clara Rivera of the abuse, and Clara allegedly assured her it would be investigated.
However, the lawsuit accuses the couple of isolating and intimidating Jane Doe to silence her and protect their church and the internship program from scandal. The complaint states,
“Rather than take sufficient action to end the sexual abuse of Jane Doe, the Riveras each separately isolated and intimidated Jane Doe to remain silent about her abuse by MG to avoid causing trouble for Refuge of Hope and the Ignite Life Summer Internship.”
It further alleges that the Riveras misrepresented their programs as safe and moral while knowing or suspecting otherwise. The suit claims that the couple prioritized their reputations over the safety of the children involved.
The allegations surface amidst Rivera’s celebrated legacy as a Hall of Fame inductee. In January 2019, he became the first unanimous inductee into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Later that year, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Donald Trump.
The lawsuit seeks justice for Jane Doe while raising serious questions about the responsibility of church leaders in safeguarding vulnerable individuals under their care. A jury trial is being sought to address the accusations.
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