A federal bankruptcy judge has ruled that PTL should be repaid nearly $200,000 of the $363,700 it spent to buy the silence of Jessica Hahn, whose sexual encounter with Jim Bakker led to his downfall.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Rufus Reynolds said PTL is owed $160,000 in principal and interest from a $150,000 trust fund the evangelical empire set up for the former church secretary in 1985 in return for her promise not to talk about the liaison.Los Angeles lawyer Scott Furstman already has agreed to return $39,000 of a $50,000 retainer PTL paid him to administer the trust fund.
Reynolds entered the judgment on Tuesday against Hahn and Furstman.
Reynolds' ruling came the same day that PTL bankruptcy trustee M.C. "Red" Benton said contributions have declined drastically.