A new lawsuit in New York alleges Mariano Rivera and his wife, Clara, of ignoring the sexual abuse of a minor that occurred both at their home and a church.
The New York Yankees legend is the pastor of Refuge of Hope Church in New Rochelle, roughly 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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Former New York Yankees star Mariano Rivera stands with his Hall of Fame plaque during a ceremony in his honor at Yankee Stadium on Aug. 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 that the victim’s mother informed Clara of the abuse and that Clara promised to investigate the matter. But they allegedly covered it up.
“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,” the suit reads.
The suit also alleges that 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 on 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 to sexually abuse children… before and during the time of the barbecue,” the suit reads.
“In order to avoid the potential scandal of child sexual abuse in its programs and otherwise protect [themselves] above all else, the Riveras… assured [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.”
Several months later, in January 2019, Rivera became the first, and still only, player to be unanimously elected into 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 the career saves record on Sept. 19, 2011, at Yankee Stadium. (Rob Tringali/MLB via Getty Images)
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Rivera, widely known as the greatest closer in the history of baseball, 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.
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