Another Accuser Emerges in T.D. Jakes Legal Battle
Pastor Richard Edwin Youngblood, 62, has filed a sworn affidavit alleging a 1988 incident with Bishop T.D. Jakes, adding new dimensions to his brother's existing allegations in an ongoing defamation lawsuit
Written By Rebecca Johnson // EEW Magazine Online
Left to Right: Duane Youngblood, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Richard Youngblood, Sr.
Federal court documents filed last Thursday reveal new allegations against Bishop T.D. Jakes, as a second accuser has come forward in the ongoing defamation lawsuit.
Pastor Richard Edwin Youngblood, Sr., 62, has filed his own accusations against Jakes, 67, joining his brother, Duane Youngblood, 58, who first brought allegations of sexual misconduct last year.
In a sworn affidavit first reported by The Christian Post, Richard Edwin Youngblood details his history with Jakes, beginning in the late 1980s when he joined Jakes' Temple of Faith church in West Virginia. Initially impressed by Jakes during a revival crusade, Richard Youngblood said he moved his family to West Virginia and was quickly elevated to serve as Jakes' armorbearer—a role that involved driving and assisting the minister.
Photo: The Potter’s House of Dallas
According to the 167-page motion, the relationship took a troubling turn in 1988 when Richard Youngblood accompanied Jakes on a church trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During an overnight stay at what the accuser identifies as an EconoLodge in Westover, West Virginia, he alleges that Jakes made unwanted sexual advances in their shared hotel room. When Richard Youngblood later expressed discomfort about the incident, he claims Jakes responded dismissively.
The affidavit describes alleged retaliation after Richard Youngblood reported the incident to a church elder named Silas Wheeler.
"Jakes subsequently calls me into his office, where he berates me for sharing what happened," the accuser wrote in his filing. "He says, 'It was like Wheeler was in the hotel with a camera.'"
Richard Youngblood claims he was ultimately banned from attending the church, and Jakes allegedly told his wife that her husband was "a liar."
This latest filing adds another dimension to the legal dispute that began in November 2024. The controversy erupted when Duane Youngblood appeared on Larry Reid Live, claiming that Jakes had sexually assaulted him approximately four decades ago when he was a teenager. Jakes responded by filing a defamation lawsuit against Duane Youngblood.
Beyond the Youngblood brothers' allegations, several other individuals have come forward with sworn statements supporting Duane Youngblood's account. These include Jeffrey S. Gray, Daniel B. Spaulding, LaShawn Youngblood, Joshua Munoz, and Landon Claybourne. The motion raises additional concerns, stating that since going public, Duane Youngblood has faced threats from individuals “associated with” Jakes—”including his son.”
"Defense attorney Tyrone A. Blackburn, opposing Jakes’ motion to dismiss the lawsuit, argues that his client's statements are protected speech, as they address “matters of significant public concern, including systemic abuse and institutional accountability within religious organizations.”
The defense further asserts that Jakes has failed to establish “falsity, actual malice, or actionable harm.”
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Jakes' legal team has filed a 20-page response asserting that Duane Youngblood—a former pastor currently on parole in Pennsylvania following convictions related to misconduct with minors—conspired with others to extort their client.
Jakes' case hinges partly on Pennsylvania's anti-SLAPP statute, enacted in July 2024, which allows defendants in defamation lawsuits to seek early dismissal of potentially frivolous claims. The Potter's House, Jakes' ministry organization, has not responded to requests for comment on these latest developments.
"From that day until recent years, I have had mental and spiritual anguish," the elder Youngblood writes in his closing statement, describing the alleged incidents' impact on his family and faith.
As both parties now await the court's ruling on the motion to dismiss, these allegations challenge a ministry built from humble beginnings. In 1980, at just 23 years old, Jakes founded Temple of Faith Church in Montgomery, West Virginia—a modest storefront ministry with ten members. While working at Union Carbide to support his calling, he steadily built what would become a global religious enterprise.
Now, as his reputation faces unprecedented scrutiny, the outcome of this case could have lasting implications for both his legacy and the broader faith community.
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