Katherine Jackson‘s nephew, Trent Jackson, is speaking out about elder abuse allegations made by Mrs. Jackson.
Trent denied taking advantage of Mrs. Jackson in an interview during Crime Stories With Nancy Grace podcast on Monday.
He told Nancy Grace he was surprised that Mrs. Jackson terminated his employment as her personal driver and evicted him from her Calabasas, Calif. mansion.
The allegations were made public when Mrs. Jackson filed for an order of protection against Trent Lamar Jackson, 52.
MRs. Jackson, 86, is currently in London, England visiting Janet Jackson’s new son.
She wants to return home but she reportedly fears Trent will harm her because she fired him.
“My aunt left me paying the bills and taking care of the household when she got over there,” said Trent. “We haven’t heard from her since she left. It seems to me that someone is over there putting all these things together, going after me so they can control my aunt, I guess. I don’t know.”
He added: “I’m still at the house right now, and we’re all puzzled at why we can’t contact her and talk to her.”
Trent denied claims that he mishandled Mrs. Jackson’s money.
“She has attorneys that make sure her money is being advocated in the right way, and we also have an accountant that also looks at the bank statement, and it’s gonna be strange when you look at those bank statements, you’re gonna really see who’s manipulating her with her money, and it’s not me. I just can’t understand why they’re making these accusations.”
Trent told Grace he has been paying Mrs. Jackson’s bills for the past 15 years — a job that was given to him by the late Michael Jackson.
“If some family members are still unhappy with the situation Michael made, and they feel like if they could control their mom the way that they want it. I would like to know what is it they’re trying to do,” he said, apparently referring to Janet.
“They are keeping her totally in the dark,” he added. “One thing they don’t understand is that she needs special care. My aunt has polio and she limps and needs strong medication… She can’t defend herself when she’s around them.”
Trent said Mrs. Jackson didn’t want to go to London but he insisted she go. “I had to contact the doctor to get the release for her to even be able to fly.”
But court papers obtained by Entertainment Tonight tell a different story.
“Mrs. Jackson has to hide in her closet to speak to her kids so she can speak freely,” the documents claim. “Trent bullies Mrs. Jackson into submission.
“Mrs. Jackson wants to return from London, but is afraid to go home with Trent there. She fears he could physically harm her for terminating him. She fears he could emotionally manipulate her into hiring him back. She fears his access to her financial records and accounts could result in further financial abuse.”
In 2015, Mrs. Jackson was removed as guardian over Michael’s 3 children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, 20, Paris Katherine, 18, and Prince Michael Jackson II, aka Bigi, 14.
Both Prince and Paris purchased their own homes. Bigi lives with his court-appointed guardian, his uncle TJ Jackson.
A hearing into the allegations has been scheduled for March 1.
