Atlanta’s Pastor Eddie Long (and his church) maintain he did not have sex with those four men who claim he really, really did, but he would love to avoid having his personal business divulged in a big trial, so he’s agreed to enter mediation with his four accusers over charges of sexual coercion. That doesn’t mean there’s no possibility of the men winding up in court; a tentative trial date of July 11 has been set.
Officially, Long will insist he agreed to mediation to avoid an ugly court battle that would harm the reputation of his church and his congregation, and that would be a reasonable concern … for an innocent man.
And it’s worth noting that the four men accusing Long of wrongdoing have not sought out media attention. Though their attorney has given statements to the press, the PR campaign against Long began only after he refused private overtures to settle the matter (at least according to the plaintiffs). Moreover, the men have only given interviews to reporters when they were ambushed at their homes, not during scheduled and purposeful interviews. So the decision to try out mediation makes sense for the four men, who likely want to close this chapter of their lives. With a cash settlement.
Andy Cooper was all over this biznastiness last night:
How about we take this to the next level?
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Cam
Nothing saves a reputation like a big ole NOT GUILTY verdict in open court….gee, why would Eddie Long want to avoid that kind of vindication…you know, if he’s actually innocent like he says. 😉
RomanHans
Really, this is smart. It’s good for a pastor and his same-sex congregants to sit around a table with a trained ombudsman and iron out whether he fucked them or not.
Ted B. (Charging Rhino)
Unfortunately, in cases like this it’s his hapless congregants who will be footing the bill for the settlements, or the church’s insurance company. Big Eddie will walk away proclaiming his innocence…in the absence of a court trial…and will keep the huge house, the jet, the Bentleys, the $3-million-dollar salary, and all the trappings of the lifestyle his (idiot) congregants tithe him with for their “salvation”.
Henry Juhala
If there is an insurance company involved in possible financial settlement of the case it is they who probably are requiring the mediation as terms of their policy. They are probably also footing the bill for the mediation since any settlement there is likely much lower than a cost of a court settlement.
But, there is also risk involved if actual criminality is confirmed and especially if it stems beyond just the four young men (which it likely has) that have filed suit. If there are multiple charges of solicitation of sex with underage men that can be substantiated, the law cannot just simply ignore it by a financial settlement.
alan brickman
ThankS Anderson for reporting this story the way it should have been reported….have your back dude!
tjr101
Eddie will pay off these young men then go on with his holier than thou rants against the “homos” in front of his 20,000 plus moronic followers. A year from now it would seem like nothing ever happened.
char
The only good thing that has come of this is now the world knows that Eddie Long is Gay sexual preditor. He can nolonger be considered “in the closet”. The congregation that continues to follow eddie long knowingly and willingly chose to follow this demon.
I am extrememly proud of the 4 young men who have slayed their DEMON.