Mariano Rivera, wife accused of covering up sexual abuse of children in her own home, church
A new lawsuit in New York states Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara for ignoring the sexual abuse of a minor that happened in their home and church.
The New York Yankees legend is the pastor of Refuge of Hope Church in New Rochelle, about 15 miles from where he played.
However, “Jane Doe” says she was sexually assaulted by an older girl, known as “MG,” during a summer internship in 2018. MG was a minor at the time of the alleged incidents.
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New York Yankees star Mariano Rivera stands with his Hall of Fame plaque during a ceremony honoring him at Yankee Stadium on August 17, 2019. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The internship took place at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida, which was affiliated with Rivera’s church.
The lawsuit states that the victim’s mother informed Clara about the abuse and that Clara promised to investigate the matter. But they allegedly covered it up.
“Instead of taking sufficient action to stop the sexual abuse of Jane Doe, the Rivers each individually isolated and intimidated Jane Doe into remaining silent about her abuse by MG in order to avoid causing problems for Refuge of Hope and Ignite Life Summer Internship,” the lawsuit reads. .
The lawsuit also alleges MG molested the victim at the Rivera residence that summer during a barbecue.
New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera throws in the ninth inning against the Mariners, June 9, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
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“Relevant at all times, [the Riveras] knew or should have known that MG posed a risk of child sexual abuse … before and during the barbecue,” the lawsuit states.
“In order to avoid a potential scandal of sexual abuse of children in his programs and in other ways to protect [themselves] above all, the Riveras… convinced [Doe’s mother] that [Doe] was safe and in no danger at Ignite Life Center, despite actual or constructive knowledge that Doe remained vulnerable to additional acts of sexual abuse by MG.”
A few months later, in January 2019, Rivera became the first and still only player to be unanimously elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Later that year, President Donald Trumpduring his first presidential term, awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
New York Yankees’ Mariano Rivera waves to the crowd after breaking the career save record on September 19, 2011 at Yankee Stadium. (Rob Tringali/MLB via Getty Images)
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Rivera, widely regarded as the best closer in baseball history, is the sport’s all-time leader with 652 saves. His 2.21 ERA is also the lowest of any pitcher with at least 500 innings since the start of the live-ball era in 1920.
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