Atlanta- An attorney representing two men accusing an Atlanta-area mega-church pastor of coercing them into a sexual relationship says her law office is broadening the investigation.
B.J. Bernstein [pictured] says her office is taking calls and believes there are other victims. She says she opened her investigation after getting a call from one of the men.
Lawyers for the men, now 20 and 21, said they filed the lawsuit yesterday against Bishop Eddie Long. The Associated Press generally doesn’t identify people who they say were victims of sexual impropriety.
Craig Gillen, Long’s attorney, says the pastor “categorically denies the allegations.”
Although the relationships started when the plaintiffs were past the legal age of consent in Georgia — which is 16 — Bernstein says Long abused his “spiritual authority” to coerce her clients into engaging in sexual acts.