Megachurch pastor sues after sex assault allegations: 'It was only kissing and awkward fondling' [View all]
Aformer Southern Baptist president is suing his former church after he was accused of assaulting another pastor's wife, saying his reputation was ruined by the allegations, Religion News Service reported.
Lawyers for the Rev. Johnny Hunt, who headed a Georgia megachurch, admit that he had a brief, inappropriate, extramarital encounter with a married woman in 2010, but that it was consensual and should not have been made public. Some of the precise details are disputed, but at most, the encounter lasted only a few minutes, and it involved only kissing and some awkward fondling, the complaint read.
In a May 2022 investigation by Guidepost Solutions, the firm found that Hunt had actually sexually assaulted the woman. Hunt's suit accuses Guidepost of defamation, libel and invasion of privacy.
The decision to smear Pastor Johnnys reputation with these accusations has led him to suffer substantial economic and other damages, according to the complaint. He has lost (his) job and income; he has lost current and future book deals; and he has lost the opportunity to generate income through speaking engagements.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/megachurch-pastor-sues-after-sex-assault-allegations-it-was-only-kissing-and-awkward-fondling/ar-AA18TzvO