Bishop T.D. Jakes, renowned leader of The Potter’s House megachurch in Dallas, Texas, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Duane Youngblood, a former pastor and registered $ex offender, who accused Jakes of $exual assault stemming from an alleged incident 40 years ago.
The lawsuit, filed in the Western District Court of Pennsylvania, describes Youngblood’s claims as “knowingly false” and part of a calculated scheme to extort millions of dollars from Jakes.
Youngblood, who has a documented history of $exually abusing minors, alleged during interviews with Larry Reid on “Larry Reid Live” that Jakes assaulted him when he was a teenager.
Jakes, 67, denies the allegations, with his legal team asserting that Youngblood’s accusations are an attempt to deflect from his own criminal history.
According to court documents, Youngblood, 58, has previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges of $exually assaulting minors during his time as a pastor in Pennsylvania.
His offenses date back to at least 2002 and include incidents of inappropriate contact with teenage boys seeking counseling.
Jakes’ lawyers argue that the accusations are not only false but part of a conspiracy to tarnish the pastor’s reputation and cause emotional and spiritual distress.
They emphasize that the lawsuit aims to halt the alleged extortion and clear Jakes’ name.
Youngblood’s attorney, Tyrone A. Blackburn, issued a statement referencing Matthew 7:15-16, implying that Jakes’ reputation should be scrutinized.
Meanwhile, Jakes maintains that his lawsuit is intended to hold Youngblood accountable for abusing the legal system and harming legitimate victims of $exual abuse.
This high-profile case highlights the complexities of addressing allegations involving public figures and individuals with a history of criminal behavior.
Jakes’ legal team seeks to restore his reputation and address what they describe as a deliberate attempt to exploit his prominence for personal and financial gain.
