A fourth man is accusing former Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash of sexual abuse.
In a lawsuit filed in Miami Monday, the accuser claimed that Clash befriended him in late 1995 or early 1996 when he was 16 or 17. The accuser, who is using the name John Doe, said Clash flew him from Miami to New York. It was during the stay in New York that the abuse allegedly occurred, Doe said.
In a statement, the victim’s attorney, Jeff Herman, said, “According to our lawsuit, Kevin Clash knowingly paid to transport a minor across state lines for the purpose of satisfying his sexual interests.”
Herman also represents two of Clash’s other accusers: accuser number two Cecil Singleton, and the third accuser, who is also using the name John Doe.
Clash resigned from Sesame Street on November 20 and issued a statement, saying:
“I have loved every day of my 28 years working for this exceptional organization. Personal matters have diverted attention away from the important work Sesame Street is doing and I cannot allow it to go on any longer. I am deeply sorry to be leaving and am looking forward to resolving these personal matters privately.”
The third accuser came forward toward the end of November, claiming that he also had a relationship with Clash beginning when he was 16. His claims resembled those of Singleton, but Clash’s former lover said the accusers were only in it for the money. Patrick Boursiquot, who dated Clash for two years, said he was a “gentleman.” He also said the accusers’ descriptions of Clash were “not the type of guy I met.”