Mariano Rivera, wife accused of covering sexual abuse in lawsuit

Mariano Rivera, the legendary former closer for the New York Yankees, and his wife Clara are facing serious allegations in a lawsuit filed in New York, which claims they covered up the sexual abuse of a minor girl affiliated with their church, Refuge of Hope. The plaintiff, referred to as 'Jane Doe,' alleges that she was sexually abused by an older girl during a summer internship at the Ignite Life Center in Florida in 2018, an event promoted by Clara Rivera. The lawsuit states that instead of addressing the abuse, the Riveras intimidated Jane Doe into silence to protect the church's reputation. It further claims that the abuse continued during a barbecue at the Rivera home, where Jane Doe was left unsupervised with the alleged abuser. The Riveras are not named as defendants in the lawsuit, which seeks unspecified damages for negligent supervision. This case highlights the ongoing issue of child abuse within religious organizations and raises serious questions about the Riveras' actions during the incidents.