By Olivia Bellusci
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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Mariano Rivera has broken his silence on the bombshell lawsuit that accuses him and wife Clara Rivera of covering up the alleged sexual abuse of a minor.
On Thursday, January 23, the Riveras' lawyer, Joseph A. Ruta, released a statement which, per the NY Post, read, "Mariano and Clara Rivera do not tolerate child abuse of any kind and allegations that they knew about or failed to act on reports of child abuse are completely false. The very first time they heard about these allegations was nearly four years after the alleged incident, when in 2022 a New York attorney sent a letter requesting a financial settlement. This was followed by a second letter in 2023, from a different Florida law firm, again requesting a financial settlement."
Ruta went on to say in the statement, "The lawsuit, which seeks financial damages for the Riveras' alleged failure to act on alleged incidents that were never reported to them, is full of inaccurate and misleading statements which we have no doubt will not hold up in a court of law."
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The 55-year-old former New York Yankees star and his wife allegedly ignored and covered up the sexual abuse of a child that happened at a summer camp connected to their church, according to the lawsuit obtained by People.
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The lawsuit, filed in New York on Thursday, January 16, explains the minor — born in 2007 and referred to as Jane Doe — was a member of the Riveras' Refuge of Hope Church in Westchester County, N.Y.
Per People, the complaint lists the first instance of alleged sexual abuse was at the hands of an older female minor referred to as MG and occurred in 2018 during a summer internship program at the Ignite Life Center in Gainesville, Florida — affiliated with thechurch. According to the complaint obtained by the outlet, the five-time World Series champion "paid Jane Doe's expenses" to "ensure she could attend the summer program."
The complaint states the husband and wife duo knew what was happening and 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 lawsuit read.
Jane Doe was allegedly abused by MG on a second occasion in 2018, this time at a summer barbeque at the Riveras' home in Westchester, which they have since sold.
The lawsuit also states Jane Doe was allegedly sexually abused in August 2021 by another individual: Ruben Tavarez Jr., who is the son of the Refuge of Hope associate pastor Ruben Tavarez Sr.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to https://www.rainn.org/
If you or someone you know is experiencing child abuse, call The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1 (800) 422-4453, open 24/7.
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