Source: Bishop Eddie Long settled
for $24.8 million, private apology
By Robert "Rob"
Redding Jr.
Editor &
Publisher
ATLANTA, June
8,
2011, 3 a.m.
- New Birth Missionary Baptist Church
pastor Bishop Eddie Long is paying nearly $25 million and has given an
apology to settle claims he had sexual relationships with four young male
parishioners, a source has told Redding News Review.
The source, who claims to be familiar with the details
of the settlement and did not wish to be identified, said that Long
refused to give a public apology, which ended up costing him more.
What began as a $2 million agreement to settle the
case for each of the four men quickly rose to $5.5 million for the
respective plaintiffs, the source said, only because Long refused to
publically admit guilt.
The men are to divide $2.2 million equally and then
receive $400,000 in payments until the money is paid out over the next
20 years, the source said. The final figure comes to $22 million for the
four men and $2.8 million for the plaintiffs attorneys.