‘The Truth Is Very Slow Walking,’ Says Donnie McClurkin
Giuseppe Corletto, former assistant to Donnie McClurkin, filed his lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court, using New York City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law. That 2022 legislation widened the statute of limitations in sexual abuse cases.
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Thomas Giuffra, the attorney representing Corletto, said McClurkin “took advantage” of his client, who was “confused and had problems accepting his sexuality coupled with his religious beliefs.” Corletto said he can no longer sit through a whole church service; instead, listening to praise music has become his form of worship.
McClurkin’s lawyer, Greg Lisi, said the lawsuit’s claims “grossly mischaracterize” McClurkin’s interactions with Corletto. “At no time did Pastor McClurkin engage in any form of sexual abuse, assault, or sexual coercion of Mr. Corletto,” said Lisi.
McClurkin has stated that although he’s “flawed in many ways sometimes…this [lawsuit] is all fabricated and untrue.” The pastor added that he prays for Corletto, that his former assistant will “regain some kind of lucid thought” and “give his life to the Lord.”
In a Jan. 10 Facebook Live broadcast, McClurkin promised that truth will prevail. He also implied that Corletto has financial motivations. “It’s a shame to proclaim yourself a victim of something that didn’t happen,” he told listeners, saying it “discredits” actual victims of sexual abuse.
“The disturbed minds of other people cannot prohibit the truth from speaking loudly,” McClurkin continued. “Although a lie is very boisterous, loud and quick, the truth is very slow walking, but it takes a moment, and it comes to the foreground.”
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In a caption accompanying that broadcast, McClurkin asked his followers for prayer and pledged that the case “will not be tried in the court of ‘public opinion.’”
