Film Claims Pat Robertson Used Africa Charity to Mine Gems

A documentary receiving its world premiere Friday at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival revives allegations that televangelist Pat Robertson used charity resources for diamond mining in Africa, writes The Virginian-Pilot.

The film, Mission Congo, grew out of articles the newspaper published in the 1990s on Mr. Robertson’s televised fundraising to aid Rwandan refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The filmmakers claim the Virginia Beach-based minister used flights by his Operation Blessing International charity to advance a mining endeavor.

Virginia authorities who investigated the matter at the time accused the charity of “misrepresenting what its flights were doing” but did not pursue charges. An Operation Blessing spokesman said the film’s allegations are false and defamatory and the charity is “considering legal action.”