A Third Lawsuit Filed Against Eddie Long

Jim Burroway

September 22nd, 2010

CNN is reporting that a third lawsuit has been filed against Atlanta megachurch pastor Eddie Long alleging coercion, negligence and fraud surrounding a sexual relationship with another young man. This is in addition to two other accusations that we reported earlier.

Responding to the earlier allegations, a spokesperson for Long called them “a case of retaliation and a shakedown for money by men with some serious credibility issues.” One of the plaintiffs, Marice Robinson, was arrested in June and charged with burglizing Long’s office and stealing an iPad, iPhone and other items worth more than $1,300. Robinson’s lawyer characterized the burlgary as an attemp to retaliate against the pastor for his sexual transgressions after having adopted him as one of Long’s “Spiritual Sons.”

The two earlier accusations have a few tantalizing details to them:

One of the men, Anthony Flagg, 21, alleges in his suit that Long took him on overnight trips to a half-dozen American cities in recent years. “Long shared a bedroom and engaged in intimate sexual contact with plaintiff Flagg including kissing, massaging, masturbating of plaintiff Flagg by defendant Long and oral sexual contact,” the suit says.

The other man, Maurice Murray Robinson, 20, claims Long took him to Auckland, New Zealand, in October 2008 for his 19th birthday and engaged in oral sex with him, Robinson’s suit alleges. “Following the New Zealand trip, defendant Long regularly engaged in sexual touching, and other sexual acts with plaintiff Robinson,” Robinson’s suit alleges

gordo

September 22nd, 2010

I don’t get this – none of these men claim to have been underage. They aren’t claiming they were raped. What exactly is the basis for their lawsuit?

Scott

September 22nd, 2010

I sense a drip drip drip for a few more days and then the dam is going to burst on this guy.

I seriously doubt these lawyers would take these cases without some pretty solid evidence (that we haven’t seen yet).

I also find it hard to believe that three “straight”, young African American men would admit to performing these acts unless they really did happen. Culturally it’s just not cool in their world.

We’ve come a long way in acceptance but I don’t think we’re quite there yet with 21 year old black men.

Regan DuCasse

September 22nd, 2010

Gordo, these were young men who didn’t have a father/mentor figure. Just like all the other pedo/ephebephiles of textbook pathology, their targets were the most vulnerable with the least means to fight back.
Long IS rich and powerful. He’s ambitious and at some point, these young people found themselves cast on a heap with other rejects, demoralized and forgotten.
Something that further exacerbates the problems of gay boys in particular.
Meanwhile, Long continues to get money, accolades and no one has a clue, much less will believe his victims.

Long is predatory in other ways. He lives like Croesus on his congregant’s donations. He does just the minimum for them to believe he’s doing good and charitable work, while justifying driving a late model Bentley. And living in a mansion.
Scott is right, these young people have nothing to gain really, to confront Long in this way. They will be maligned and dismissed as the one’s victimizing Long.
But his hypocrisy had to come to light. Just as it had to with Ted Haggard and Rekers.
They are ALL men who actively worked against gays and lesbian civil rights, while, as this proves, exploiting young gays for his own pleasure.
This is so despicable and wrong.
Unfortunately, like with the Catholic church, with Life Ministries and other churches that have had this same exposure: they’ll try to farm Long off, or say it’s a lapse that deserves he go and regroup at some resort.

But ultimately, these churches have NEVER cared about their young.
But about covering their asses, and avoiding criminal prosecution if not lawsuits.

I’m sure Long doesn’t want the intense scrutiny of the media and likely has little with which to defend himself.
I’d be interested to know what gay friendly reporter for the Atlanta Courier Journal Cynthia Tucker has to say about this.

Regan DuCasse

September 22nd, 2010

oops. Make that the Atlanta Journal Courier.
My bad.

gordo

September 22nd, 2010

Regan – I agree, I’m not defending him. He’s slime. We’ve always known that. But what, exactly, was the crime.

Ben in Atlanta

September 22nd, 2010

The paper is the Atlanta Journal Constitution. (ajc.com) When two papers were published the morning paper was the Constitution and the evening paper was the Journal. Many refer to it as a rag but then again I work in TV news so I may have a little bias. (The one that’s quoted.)

Lou Donohoe

September 22nd, 2010

Gordo: There is no crime, at least not in GA; these are civil charges. The men are claiming coercion, negligence and fraud on the part of Long. In effect he used his position and authority as pastor to extract sexual favors from them. Essentially a sexual harassment action.

If authorities can substantiate sexual behavior between Long and these young men in locations where they would have been underage, criminal charges could be pursued in those other jurisdictions.

Regan DuCasse

September 24th, 2010

And Gordo, using church funds for something illicit is likely actionable as a crime too. Perhaps rescinding of tax exempt status, for example.

I’m sure Long would like this to go away and he doesn’t want to have to confront his congregants and try to explain THIS latest thing.

But he’s never been called to account for an exceptionally lavish lifestyle.
That alone should have given people pause.

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