February 21st 2025.
Renowned pastor and influential spiritual leader, T.D. Jakes, is pushing back against allegations of sexual assault made by former pastors in a recent lawsuit, as reported by The Christian Post.
Jakes and his legal team are determined to challenge the credibility of his accusers and have filed a motion to dismiss the case. In an eight-page affidavit, the pastor vehemently denies the accusations, calling them "malicious lies."
The accusers, former pastor Duane Youngblood and pastor Richard Edwin Youngblood, claim that Jakes sexually assaulted them when they were under his leadership. Richard Edwin Youngblood alleges that during a ministry trip, Jakes attempted to assault him in a hotel room they shared.
"He secured a room with two beds in it, and we went to the room for the night. That night, while I was lying in my bed, I felt Elder Jakes climb into my bed. He pressed his body against mine and asked, 'Youngblood, do you feel that?' He was referring to his erection that he was pressing against my backside," Youngblood wrote in his affidavit.
"I was in complete shock, and as I got up from the bed, he also got up and met me. He grabbed me by the arms and tried to kiss me. I couldn't believe what was happening to me," he added.
According to the Houston Chron, Duane Youngblood, now 58, claims that Jakes assaulted him in a private home. In a statement, he wrote, "As I prepared to leave, he pulled me close and tried to kiss me." The next day, Jakes allegedly called him and expressed his desire to have a sexual relationship with him whenever he visited the town.
In his affidavit, Jakes adamantly refutes all of the accusations, stating, "These claims describe situations where I allegedly had sexual desires for these men. These statements are knowingly and blatantly false."
Duane Youngblood also claims that since he went public with his allegations on the Larry Reid Live YouTube talk show, Jakes and his team have taken retaliatory actions to silence him.
However, Jakes and his son, Jermaine, deny all of the accusations. In a statement, the pastor expressed the emotional toll this lawsuit has taken on him and his family. "For years, I have been advised to ignore the constant stream of baseless attacks on my character. But the toll it has taken on my loved ones is too much to bear," he said.
"The pain it has caused my wife of 43 years and my five children, whom I have always loved and provided for, is simply unbearable. I have reached my breaking point, and that is why I have authorized this lawsuit," Jakes added. "I can no longer remain silent."
In other news, Jakes and Wells Fargo have announced a $9 million grant for underserved communities. This initiative aims to provide resources and support to those in need, and Jakes hopes it will help bring about positive change in these communities.
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