Eddie Long Case: Hush Money on the Way?

Well, now. I had a feeling this was going to happen.

Bishop Eddie Long had his first hearing Friday regarding his sexual coercion case brought by 4 young men. And, not surprisingly, it looks like an out of court settlement is an increasingly strong possibility in this case.

As reported by Fox 5 News Atlanta:

ATLANTA, Ga. - The first court hearing in the Bishop Eddie Long sexual misconduct case was held Friday, and the case is headed for settlement talks. Lawyers for the bishop and the four young men who have filed suits against him said they want to avoid a trial and resolve the dispute in mediation early next year.

During a status conference held Friday, lawyers for both sides gave a road map of what's going to happen throughout the case, when it's going to happen and why it's going to happen.

On the way into the courthouse, Bishop Eddie Long's attorney Craig Gillen, and the young accusers' attorney, B.J. Bernstein, had little to say. But after a short status conference, one thing was clear: Both sides were ready to resolve the case.

 Link to full story below.

My thoughts on this? Bottom line:

If an out of court settlement does take place, it would be a travesty. Eddie Long would just go on conducting “business as usual”, breathing a sigh of relief that this thing is finally put behind him. Still, he’d be damaged goods – and he should be. His “ministry” and his reputation would never be the same; and frankly, it would be fully deserved.

(Pardon me if this all sounds a bit blunt, but I’m saying this with good reason. There’s a lot that I’m not at liberty to say on this blog regarding some specifics I’m aware of. But suffice it to say that I don’t have a shred of doubt that this man is guilty… and I’ve felt this way since over a year ago, long before this case became public)

Of course, Eddie Long should hope that no other accusers come against him. Now that this talk of out-of-court settlements (read: “big checks”) is in the air, other accusers just might come out of the woodwork. Although four men have sued him so far, let’s just say “Bishop” Long is somewhat fortunate that only 4 have sued him. It actually could have been worse, and – (who knows?) – by the time this thing is all over it actually might.

Eddie Long and his gay/down-low dirt has been known here in Atlanta (and elsewhere) for some time. It hasn’t really been a huge secret. Perhaps the only person who thought his dirt was actually a secret was Eddie Long himself; if so, the man is just deluded, blinded by his sin and his own ego.

That’s why it would irk me to no end to see him dodge the proverbial bullet by settling out of court. Still, it’s in God’s hands. In the end, one thing is for sure: Eddie Long will be exposed, either in this life, or in the next. One can only hope he decides to get it right before he departs this world. But frankly, from what I’m seeing and the stance he’s taken on this so far, I’m not very optimistic. 

However, at the end of the day, Eddie Long deserves our prayers, as do the 20,000+ sheep at his church who are following a tainted shepherd.

See full article: First Hearing Held in Bishop Eddie Long Case.