New York attorney general orders televangelist Jim Bakker to stop selling 'silver' coronavirus cure
Attorney General Letitia James sends a cease and desist letter to Jim Bakker saying there are currently no FDA-approved medicines or vaccines able to prevent or treat COVID-19.
As New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo declares a state of emergency amid a spike in coronavirus cases, the state's attorney general, Letitia James, is going after a Chrisitan televangelist for "false advertising."
A guest of The Jim Bakker Show on Feb. 12, Sherrill Sellman, was asked if the "Silver Solution," sold for $125 on his website, would be effective against the coronavirus.
"Let's say it hasn't been tested on this strain of the coronavirus," Sellman, a naturopathic doctor, is quoted as saying, "but it's been tested on other trains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours."
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Lisa Landau sent a "cease and desist" letter to Bakker, who has previously served jail time for federal fraud and conspiracy charges in the 90s, on March 3 giving him 10 business days to comply or possibly face a fine of $5,000 per violation.
"Your show's segment may mislead consumers as to the effectiveness of the Silver Solution product in protecting against the current outbreak," Landau wrote.
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The World Health Organization said there is no known FDA approved medicine or vaccine able to prevent or treat COVID-19 at this time.
“As we experience more cases of coronavirus, it is imperative that New Yorkers remain calm, but stay vigilant,” the attorney general said in a statement.
“In addition to being mindful about our health, we must also beware of unscrupulous actors who attempt to take advantage of this fear and anxiety to scam or deceive consumers. I encourage anyone who believes they are the victim of a scam or predatory action to contact my office and file a complaint," she added.
Jim Bakker (pictured in 2011) has been warned to stop advertising silver solution as an effective treatment for coronavirus (Michael Tran/FilmMagic)
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Bakker served five years of a 45-year sentence for stealing millions from his ministry, The Praise the Lord Club. He was also accused of raping Jessica Hahn, a church's secretary, in the 1980s. Bakker testified that he had been set up, arguing that sex with Hahn was consensual.
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