Nation IN BRIEF : LOUISIANA : Swaggart Defends His Actions at Trial

Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart took the witness stand to defend himself against a $90-million defamation lawsuit filed by Marvin Gorman, a rival television minister. In a testy exchange with Gorman’s attorney, Swaggart testified in New Orleans that he decided Gorman had not repented of adultery after an affair with another minister’s wife. He acknowledged writing to an official of the Assemblies of God to tell him Gorman had not repented. But, he insisted: “I never trashed Marvin Gorman.” Gorman resigned as pastor of the First Assembly of God Church in New Orleans in July, 1986, after admitting to an adulterous affair.