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Jackson acknowledges settling past claims
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-04 13:22

Michael Jackson, saying he must respond to "untruths and sensationalism," acknowledged Friday that he has reached financial settlements with people in the past to avoid the public embarrassment of going to court.

Michael Jackson gestures as he enters the courthouse in a pretrial hearing in his child molestation case in Santa Maria, California, in this August 16, 2004 file photo. According to a report by 'Dateline NBC', Michael Jackson paid US$2 million to the son of an employee at his Neverland Ranch in 1990 to stave off an accusation of child molestation, September 2, 2004. [Reuters]

Jackson's statement was issued just hours before the scheduled broadcast of a "Dateline NBC" report alleging that the entertainer paid US$2 million to the son of an employee at his Neverland Ranch in 1990 to avoid a child molestation accusation. The statement did not mention the NBC report.

Jackson, 46, has denied ever harming any child and is currently fighting charges he molested a boy in 2003. His trial is scheduled to begin Jan. 31.

Jackson acknowledged that he has made financial settlements in the past to avoid litigation but added, "I would never harm a child."

"Years ago, I settled with certain individuals because I was concerned about my family and the media scrutiny that would have ensued if I fought the matter in court," he said.

"These people wanted to exploit my concern for children by threatening to destroy what I believe in and what I do. I have been a vulnerable target for those who want money."

Jackson was being investigated by Santa Barbara authorities in 1993 when he reached a settlement with his accuser, paying him a sum reported at US$15 million to US$20 million.

"Dateline NBC" reported that in 1990 Jackson allegedly made a US$2 million payment to the son of an employee at his Neverland Ranch. The boy was not the same one Jackson settled with in 1993, according to the report.

Former Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Thomas told "Dateline NBC" authorities learned of the 1990 case during their 1993 investigation.

Jackson has pleaded not guilty to committing a lewd act upon a child, administering an intoxicating agent and conspiring to commit child abduction, false imprisonment and extortion.

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