"She was the one that hit me in the marriage." - Bishop Thomas Weeks

Airdate: Thursday, November 29th 2007

Check local listings for times

New York, NY - November 28, 2007 -INSIDE EDITION has an exclusive interview with Bishop Thomas Weeks III, who speaks out in his first one-on-one interview about his split from evangelist Juanita Bynum and his recent arrest for assault.

Juanita Bynum and Bishop Thomas Weeks III, who were married in 2002, are currently embattled in a bitter divorce.  Weeks is currently facing assault charges in Atlanta, GA for allegedly attacking Bynum.

Following are excerpted quotes from this exclusive interview scheduled to broadcast on INSIDE EDITION.  Credit must be given to INSIDE EDITION.

Weeks, who married Bynum in a lavish televised ceremony with over 1,000 guests, tells INSIDE EDITION he did not abuse Bynum in the parking lot and claims that she abused him in the past.

Weeks: "She was the one that hit me in the marriage."

Weeks: "She swore that if anything ever separated us, she would stalk me."

Weeks tells INSIDE EDITION Bynum's recent remarks in Essence magazine about the alleged abuse are completely unfounded and the truth will prevail.

Weeks: "I'm not afraid to go before people and tell them the truth, she [Bynum] is."

In the interview with the magazine Bynum claims Weeks left her with multiple bruises saying, "Nothing warrants what I received in that parking lot...I still have multiple bruises on my legs, my back, my neck...I had to go back to the hospital a week after the incident because I couldn't breathe."

Weeks adamantly denies beating his wife in the parking lot when asked directly by INSIDE EDITION.

Weeks: "No I did not.  Not at all...I'm not saying that she didn't get a bruise from falling back.  I'm not saying that there was not a scratch on her shoulder or her arm, but I know I didn't choke her.  I know I didn't kick her."

Weeks, who is currently facing criminal charges for the alleged assault, tells INSIDE EDITION why he believes Bynum is making these claims.

Weeks: "She does not want to see another woman next to me, and the best way to do it is to make sure I end up in jail."

Weeks tells INSIDE EDITION he hopes it does not go to trial.

Weeks: "If it goes to trial, it's not going to be pretty."

Weeks says he has come forward now for the sake of the people in his church.

Weeks: "I have to talk now because people want to know the other side of the story, the truth that I know of what happened that night."

A spokesperson for Juanita Bynum had no comment on the allegations made by Bishop Weeks.

INSIDE EDITION is produced daily at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City and produced and distributed by CBS Television Distribution, a unit of CBS Corp.  

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Contact:           Jessica Fielder, Inside Edition

                       O: 212-817-5664

                       C: 646-306-1943

                        Jfielder@kingworld.com

Jessica Fielder 

Publicist

Inside Edition 

jfielder@kingworld.com
(o) 212-817-5664
(c) 646-306-1943
(f)  212-586-8308