A new lawsuit in New York accuses Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, of ignoring the sexual abuse of a minor that occurred both at their home and at a 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 abused 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 next to 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 says the victim’s mother informed Clara of the abuse and that Clara promised to investigate the matter. But they supposedly covered it up.
“Instead of taking sufficient action to end Jane Doe’s sexual abuse, the Riveras each separately isolated and intimidated Jane Doe into remaining silent about her abuse by MG to avoid causing problems for Refuge of Hope and the Ignite Life summer internship,” the lawsuit says. read.
The lawsuit also alleges that MG abused the victim at Rivera’s residence that summer during a barbecue.
New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera pitches in the ninth inning against the Mariners on June 9, 2013, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
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“At all relevant times, [the Riveras] “I knew or should have known that MG was a risk of sexually abusing children…before and during the time of the barbecue,” the lawsuit reads.
“To avoid the possible scandal of child sexual abuse in its programs and to otherwise protect [themselves] Above all, the Riveras… assured [Doe’s mother] that [Doe] “was safe and not in danger at Ignite Life Center, despite actual or constructive knowledge that Doe remained vulnerable to additional acts of sexual abuse by MG.”
Several months later, in January 2019, Rivera became the first, and still only, player unanimously elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Later that year, President Donald Trump, during his first presidency, awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees waves to the crowd after breaking his career saves record on September 19, 2011 at Yankee Stadium. (Rob Tringali/MLB via Getty Images)
Widely known as the greatest closer in baseball history, Rivera is the sport’s all-time saves leader with 652. His 2.21 ERA is also the lowest of any pitcher with at least 500 innings since the era began. of live ball in 1920.
