Jimmy Swaggart

During a televised sermon about same-sex marriage, Swaggart declared that he would kill a man who looked at him in a certain way, prompting complaints and a strong public reaction. He subsequently described the phrase as humorous and apologised to those offended.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Personally implicated

Following the Indio incident, Swaggart temporarily stepped aside, handed control of the ministry to his son Donnie, underwent counselling and saw his national campaigns suspended. The ministry subsequently suffered substantial financial losses and reduced staff numbers.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

After helping publicise allegations of sexual relationships against pastor Marvin Gorman, who was removed from the Assemblies of God, Swaggart became a defendant in a defamation lawsuit. In 1991, a jury found that Swaggart and his ministry had spread falsehoods damaging Gorman and awarded $10 million in damages.

Attribution

Personally implicated

Swaggart was stopped by police in Indio for erratic driving and received three traffic citations. Rosemary Garcia, a passenger in his vehicle, publicly stated that she was a prostitute and alleged that Swaggart had approached her for sex.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Personally implicated

Photographs taken near a motel in the New Orleans area showed Swaggart with a woman described as a prostitute. In February 1988, he publicly confessed to a "moral failure" before his congregation and temporarily stepped down.

State of the evidence

Admitted by the person

Attribution

Personally implicated

The Assemblies of God imposed a year away from preaching and a rehabilitation programme on Swaggart. He refused the conditions, arguing that a prolonged absence would destroy his television ministry; the national body consequently defrocked him.

Attribution

Directly implicated