Shock twist as Yankees icon and wife are named in sexual abuse lawsuit
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Mariano Rivera and his wife Clara, both prominent figures, have been named as defendants in a high-profile child sexual abuse lawsuit that was initiated four months ago.

Initially, in January, the lawsuit implicated Mariano and Clara for allegedly concealing instances of child sexual abuse that happened at their residence and a summer camp associated with their church. The lawsuit was filed by a girl and her mother in State Supreme Court in Westchester County, New York.

Despite the original filing not listing them as defendants, the lawsuit claims that the plaintiff, who suffered abuse from an older child at church-related events in Westchester County where the Riveras are pastors, accuses the couple of neglecting to safeguard her.

Yet on Wednesday, Adam Horowitz, an attorney for the girl, said they have now been added in an amended court filing, according to ESPN.

It has been determined that Mariano, a baseball Hall of Famer, and Clara are not connected with Refuge of Hope – the church and limited liability company founded by the Riveras that was initially named in the suit.

The LLC is also believed to have included their former home address, which they sold back in 2022.

Mariano Rivera and wife Clara have been added as defendants in a child sexual abuse lawsuit

Mariano Rivera and wife Clara have been added as defendants in a child sexual abuse lawsuit

Rivera pitched for the Yankees from 1995 to 2013 and captured five World Series titles

Rivera pitched for the Yankees from 1995 to 2013 and captured five World Series titles

The Yankees legend and his wife are pastors of Refuge of Hope Church in New Rochelle

The Yankees legend and his wife are pastors of Refuge of Hope Church in New Rochelle

Despite being added as named defendants, Mariano and Clare have not been charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

Joseph A. Ruta, an attorney for the Riveras, previously described allegations that they failed to act on reports of child abuse as ‘completely false’.

Ruta added that they learned of the accusations in 2022 after receiving a letter from an attorney demanding a financial settlement.

The original suit claimed the plaintiff, identified only as ‘Jane Doe’, was convinced by Clara to go to Gainesville, Florida for a summer internship that the Ignite Life Center, which was affiliated with Refuge of Hope, was hosting.

While there Doe was allegedly abused by an older female camper, who was a minor at the time.

It’s alleged Doe was repeatedly abused in the camp’s dormitory and showers, with the older girl ‘fondling and penetrating’ her breasts, buttocks and genitals.

The lawsuit claims that when Doe’s mother was informed about the alleged abuse, she contacted Clara – who is a senior pastor at the church – to tell her she was ‘concerned’ for her daughter’s safety.

The mother was supposedly ‘assured’ by Clara that she would investigate when her and Mariano, a Baseball Hall of Famer, attended the camp themselves.

However, when they arrived, it’s claimed both Mariano and Clara ‘each separately isolated’ Doe and ‘intimidated her to remain silent’ to ‘avoid causing trouble’ for the church and summer camp.

It's alleged the girl was abused at a barbecue hosted by the Riveras at their New York home

It’s alleged the girl was abused at a barbecue hosted by the Riveras at their New York home

Rivera received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump at the White House

Rivera received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump at the White House

When the camp and internship had concluded, Doe claims she returned to New York and kept attending Refuge of Hope services.

However, according to the complaint, an alleged separate incident of abuse by the same older girl, took place in August 2018 at a barbecue that was hosted by the Riveras at their then $4million Rye, New York home. Parents were not invited.

The older girl was allegedly invited and ‘once again sexually abused’ Doe. It’s claimed she ‘engaged in acts that would constitute a sexual offense under Article 130 of the New York Penal Law’, according to the filing.

Years later, in 2021, Doe was then allegedly sexually abused by the adult son of an associate pastor, who was working as a youth leader for the Refuge of Hope.

The Riveras ‘falsely promoted their activities and premises as being safe, moral, and otherwise free of a risk of harm when it knew or should have known otherwise,’ the lawsuit stated.

Rivera, 55, pitched for the Yankees from 1995 to 2013 and won five World Series titles in The Bronx. He is regarded as one of the greatest-ever closers and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2019.

He has been a staunch supporter of Donald Trump since the reality television star first ran as the Republican nominee in 2016.

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