A new lawsuit in New York accuses Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, of ignoring the sexual abuse of a minor that took place both in their home and in a church.
The New York Yankees legend is 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 with his Hall of Fame plaque during a ceremony in his honor 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 suit says the victim’s mother informed Clara of the abuse and that Clara promised to investigate. But they allegedly covered it up.
“Instead of taking adequate steps to end the sexual abuse of Jane Doe, the Riveras each isolated and intimidated Jane Doe into remaining silent about her abuse by MG to avoid causing problems for Refuge of Hope and Ignite Life Summer Internship ,” the case. reader.
The suit also alleges MG abused 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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“At all times relevant, [the Riveras] knew or should have known that MG was a risk of child sexual abuse… before and during grilling time,” the suit reads.
“To avoid the potential scandal of child sexual abuse in its programs and otherwise protect [themselves] above all else, Rivera’s… secured [Doe’s mother] to [Doe] was safe and not in danger at Ignite Life Center, despite actual or constructive knowledge that Doe remained vulnerable to further sexual assault by MG.”
Several 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 Trump, during his first term in office, awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees waves to the crowd after breaking the career save record on September 19, 2011 at Yankee Stadium. (Rob Tringali/MLB via Getty Images)
Widely regarded 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 by any pitcher with at least 500 innings since the live-ball era began in 1920.
