Baseball legend Mariano Rivera accused of covering up child sexual abuse

Former New York Yankees star Mariano Rivera and his wife are facing a lawsuit accusing them of covering up child sexual abuse that allegedly took place at a Florida summer camp linked to Rivera's church, Refuge of Hope, TMZ reports.

• Read also: Former MLB pitcher found dead at 37, suspected overdose

The lawsuit was filed by the mother of the girl, identified as A. Doe in the case. She claims that her daughter was sexually abused at the camp in 2018.

The mother also alleges that she informed Rivera about the abuse, but instead of investigating, he and his wife tried to intimidate her into silence to protect the reputation of their church.

Rivera has denied the allegations, calling them false. His attorney, Joseph Ruta, stated that the Riveras were unaware of the claims until 2022, when they received a demand letter from the plaintiff's lawyer.

“The Riveras are known throughout New York for their charitable work and especially for their commitment to serving underprivileged children. It’s unfortunate they are being targeted by false allegations,” the attorney emphasized.