Dallas megachurch pastor Bishop T.D. Jakes is forcefully pushing back against allegations of sexual assault brought forth by two former mentees, asserting that the claims are part of an extortion attempt. Jakes, the influential leader of the 80,000-member Potter’s House, has formally denied accusations that he assaulted former pastor Duane Youngblood when he was a teenager or his older brother, Pastor Richard Edwin Youngblood.
In a legal response to a motion seeking to dismiss a defamation lawsuit he filed against his accusers, Jakes categorically refuted all allegations, stating that the claims are malicious fabrications designed to extract $6 million from him. The Christian Post reports that Jakes’ 562-page response, submitted in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, challenges the credibility of the Youngblood brothers and other unnamed accusers.
Represented by a trio of high-profile attorneys—Devin J. Chwastyk of McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC in Pennsylvania, Dustin A. Pusch of Meier Watkins Phillips Pusch LLP in Washington, D.C., and Derrelle M. Janey of The Janey Law Firm P.C. in New York City—Jakes is aggressively fighting the allegations. His legal team argues that the claims, presented in support of an anti-SLAPP motion filed last month, are baseless and defamatory.
Jakes himself submitted an eight-page affidavit under penalty of perjury, directly addressing the accusations and condemning what he describes as a concerted effort to smear his reputation.
“I have reviewed the affidavits of Duane Youngblood and Richard Youngblood submitted in support of the motion to dismiss. The statements in these affidavits purport to describe situations where I harbored carnal desires for these men. These statements are knowingly and flagrantly false,” Jakes asserts in the document.
Furthermore, Jakes expressed his outrage over what he characterizes as an extortion attempt, pointing to a $6 million demand made by Duane Youngblood’s attorney, Tyrone Blackburn. “I am repulsed by these defamatory accusations and the $6 million extortion letter I received,” he stated.
The legal battle is expected to continue as Jakes remains steadfast in his defense, insisting that the accusations are part of a broader attempt to tarnish his legacy and ministry. As the case unfolds, it will undoubtedly attract significant attention from both the religious and legal communities.