BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo Common Council President Darius Pridgen, speaking Friday morning on WUFO-AM, called on the community "to be gracious to her," referring to the woman named as a plaintiff in a sexual abuse lawsuit filed Wednesday against Pridgen.
Pridgen was responding to a Buffalo News report that claims the woman told them the alleged abuse never happened and that she never talked to an attorney. "I don't know nothing about it. It didn't happen on my behalf. Honest to God," she was quoted as saying.
The Buffalo News did not identify the woman by name, and 2 On Your Side is also not identifying her since the initial report referred to her as a victim of sexual abuse.
2 On Your Side did contact her attorney, New York City lawyer Antigone Curis, to ask if the woman was recanting her story. Curis issued a statement saying, "My client has repeatedly refused phone calls from the Buffalo News and media alike. She has made no such representation."
"Something obviously is going on," Pridgen said on the radio show. "She has said this never occurred. I can't go into detail of the next steps."
Pridgen later did a Zoom interview with Channel 2. He said "It is just what I said from the beginning. I was not a part of this. This never happened."
Pridgen again said he does not recall ever meeting the woman and says so far he and the church have not been served with the actual lawsuit. He did make this point about the lawsuit which is being handled by Attorney Antigone Curis of New York City.
"Now we're in an Internet age and a social media age where you can get a doctor online. You can get a nurse online. You can have a therapist online. But at the end of the day, this was not a Buffalo attorney and generally not about this case. You know, at the end of the day, I have no idea because I'm lost about this entire situation," Pridgen said.
Buffalo Lawyers Paul Cambria and Joseph Manna represent Pridgen, and they shared a letter with 2 On Your Side that they sent to attorney Curis. It says, "Your lawsuit is NOT verified by (plaintiff). Instead, you verified the complaint. It is very concerning that you verified the false allegations, but (plaintiff) told the Buffalo News she has not spoken to a lawyer."
2 On Your Side reached out repeatedly to Curis for additional comment, but she has not yet responded.
Pridgen's lawyers went on to demand of Curis, "You immediately file a notice of discontinuance with prejudice. Failure to do so will result in additional litigation. Do govern yourself accordingly."
When asked about that final point of legal action, Pridgen emphasized he is a religious leader and would hope that others would again show grace to the alleged accuser because again he feels "something is going on."
However, Pridgen added: "Grace is not without litigation at times. I have no idea (about further action). And the end of the day here's what I do know. This never occurred. It never occurred with Darius G. Pridgen. It never occurred at True Bethel. This never occurred with anyone."
2 On Your Side's Claudine Ewing spoke to Pridgen when the allegations surfaced. You can watch that interview here: