What to Know About Mariano Rivera's Life Since the Yankees amid Accusations He Covered Up Child Sex Abuse

Mar. 15, 2025

Clara Rivera and Mariano Rivera.Photo:James Devaney/WireImage

James Devaney/WireImage

MLB Hall of Fame pitcherMariano Riveraand his wife Clara Rivera were accused ofcovering up child sex abusein a lawsuit filed last week.

PEOPLE has reached out to representatives for the Riveras and their church for comment, but have not heard back.

Since Rivera’s baseball career ended in 2013, the 55-year-old former pitcher has become heavily involved with religion, politics, and philanthropy — from becoming a pastor at the Refuge of Hope church (where his wife Clara is the church’s head pastor) to campaigning in support of PresidentDonald Trump.

In light of the recent allegations against him and his wife, here’s what Rivera’s been up to since leaving baseball in 2013.

Philanthropy & Religion

Mariano Rivera.AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Rivera’s philanthropic efforts began in the midst of his baseball career, launching theMariano Rivera Foundationin 1998. His eponymous foundation is “dedicated to providing children from impoverished families with life skills that will set them on the path to a brighter future” and donates money to children across the United States and in his native Panama through church organizations, primarily helping students prepare for college and getting a job afterwards.

Many of Rivera’s donations come through church-related organizations or events. A devout christian since he was 21 years old, Rivera turned to religion when he was 21 after he became “unhappy with the direction” of his life, hetoldESPN in 2011.

“I always believe that when the Lord puts his eyes on you, he will keep you from doing things. He will keep you from going the other way,” RiveratoldESPN in 2013. “I’m perfect? No, I’m not even near close to perfect. But you know what, I love to do good for others. I love to please other people.”

A year later, the Associated Pressreportedthat Rivera purchased a 107-year-old church in New Rochelle, New York, and put $3 million of renovations into it through his foundation. The church, which became the official home of the Riveras’ Refuge of Hope church, is at the center of the allegations made last week against Rivera and his wife Clara, who became the church’s head pastor after it opened.

Cooperstown & the Presidential Medal of Freedom

Mariano Rivera.Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty

Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty

Rivera earned baseball’s highest honor in 2019 when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. The game’s all-time leader in saves, Rivera became — and remains — the only player in baseball history to be inducted unanimously. Rivera won five World Series titles with the Yankees throughout his 19-year MLB career and was named to the All-Star Game a total of 13 times.

“Mariano Rivera has made extraordinary contributions to American sports, culture and society," Trumpsaidduring the ceremony. “He is the most dominant relief pitcher in the history of baseball. And more than that, he has lived the American dream and shines as an example of American greatness for all to see.”

Politics

Mariano Rivera and President Donald Trump.MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty

Rivera and Trump’s friendship dates back to their time as two of the biggest celebrity names in New York City during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Despite backlash against Rivera’s stumping for Trump during the 2016 and 2020 elections, the retired pitcher has defended his support for the disgraced president.

“He was a friend of mine before he became president,” Riverasaidin 2019, according to Sports Illustrated, in response to a column which accused him of buddying up to a “racist” president. “So, because he’s president I will turn my back on him? No. I respect him. I respect what he does and I believe he’s doing the best for the United States of America.”

Trump returned favor for Rivera’s loyalty, awarding the retired pitcher the medal of freedom and naming him to several government posts — from serving on the Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission and being named a co-chair of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.

Rivera again endorsed Trump in 2024, once again saying his decision was simply because of their friendship.

“President Trump, he’s my friend,” RiveratoldFox News last April. “I can’t deny that. I will tell that to anyone. Before he was the president, he was my friend. Because of that, I’m going to vote for him.”

Controversy and Lawsuits

Clara Rivera and Mariano Rivera.AP Photo/Mark Lennihan

Prior to last week’s allegations that he and his wife covered up a child sex abuse scandal at their church, Rivera flirted with another fall from grace in 2019 when he was named in a lawsuit alleging he had two children out of wedlock for whom he stopped paying child support.

“He stopped paying for things for his children and put them in an economically critical situation,” the woman’s attorney alleged at the time, according to ESPN. The two sides eventually settled.

Rivera has three children with his wife Clara: Mariano Rivera III, Jaziel Rivera and Jafet Rivera.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Last week’s lawsuit alleged Rivera and his wife both “separately” spoke with the child who was allegedly abused while on a summer camp trip through their Refuge of Hope church and again at a barbecue at the Riveras’ home in New York. The couple is accused of having “intimidated” the alleged victim “to remain silent” about the allegations in order to protect their church and its summer program.

The complaint alleges that the Riveras “falsely promoted their activities and premises as being safe, moral, and otherwise free of a risk of harm when it knew or should have known otherwise." The plaintiff is seeking a jury trial.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

source: people.com