DALLAS, Texas — Bishop T.D. Jakes, the prominent leader of The Potter’s House, a mega-church in Dallas, recently filed a defamation lawsuit following allegations of sexual assault made by former pastor Duane Youngblood. These allegations, which Jakes vehemently denies, surfaced shortly after he suffered a health scare while preaching.
The lawsuit, submitted to the Western District Court of Pennsylvania, details the claims against Youngblood, a registered sex offender with a history of criminal behavior involving minors dating back to at least 2002. This filing was a response to accusations from Youngblood who, 40 years ago as a teenager, alleged that Jakes attempted to sexually assault him.
Youngblood, who has been convicted of sexual assault and corruption of minors, has pleaded guilty to his crimes, including inappropriate behavior with two teens between 2009 and 2011, as per court records. He is currently under parole supervision in Pennsylvania. Despite his criminal past, Youngblood, in recent interviews, accused Jakes of making sexual advances towards him decades ago—a claim he has leveraged in an alleged plot to extort money from the bishop.
According to the legal documents, lawyers for Jakes argue that Youngblood’s actions are an attempt “to deflect blame and accountability for his own reprehensible and criminal conduct” by tarnishing Jakes’s reputation. They said that this strategy was evident when an attorney for Youngblood issued a demand for $6 million to settle the matter quietly or face a lawsuit against Jakes for sexual assault and harassment.
The lawsuit aims to “halt” these claims, stop their damaging effects on Jakes, and rectify his “patent falsity” of the accusations. This legal action comes in the wake of serious damage to Jakes’s reputation, alleged to have caused significant emotional and physical distress to him, and potentially hindering the philanthropic efforts he leads.
The controversy reached a wider audience after Youngblood shared his allegations on the “Larry Reid Live” internet show, where he detailed an uncomfortable encounter with Jakes roughly 40 years ago. Following his public statements, Youngblood’s attorney sent a letter to Jakes demanding millions in exchange for silence.
Addressing the case, Jakes’s legal team emphasized the bishop’s firm belief in the dignified treatment of actual sexual abuse victims and the corresponding accountability for genuine perpetrators. They claim that Youngblood’s actions misuse the legal system and potentially harm individuals with legitimate abuse claims.
Adding to the complexity, when asked about Jakes’s lawsuit, Youngblood’s lawyer, Tyrone A. Blackburn, responded with a biblical reference hinting at a hidden truth yet to emerge.
Legal and emotional ramifications of this case continue to develop, posing questions about the impact of such high-stakes legal disputes on the communities surrounding both parties.
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