Operation Snow White
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Operation Snow White was the name given internally by the Church of Scientology to a program which included the single largest infiltration of the United States government in history.[1] Under this program, Scientology operatives committed infiltration, wiretapping, and theft of documents in government offices, most notably those of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Eleven highly-placed Church executives, including Mary Sue Hubbard (wife of founder L. Ron Hubbard and second in command of the organization), pleaded guilty or were convicted in federal court of obstructing justice, burglary of government offices, and theft of documents and government property. The case was United States vs. Mary Sue Hubbard et al., 493 F. Supp. 209 (D.D.C. 1979).
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[edit] Background
The "Snow White Program" was written by L. Ron Hubbard (LRH)[2] as an attempt to reduce or eliminate unfavorable reports on Scientology, the Church of Scientology, and LRH himself, especially those held by Interpol and the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Critics and supporters of Scientology generally have different beliefs on whether the illegal acts committed to carry out Hubbard's orders were a misunderstanding of his directives or in fact exactly what he had ordered.[3]
[edit] Results of the Investigation
FBI raids on Scientology properties in 1977 not only turned up documentation of the group's illegal activities against the United States government, but also illegal activities against other perceived enemies of Scientology, such as "Operation Freakout", a conspiracy to frame author Paulette Cooper on false bomb-threat charges, and conspiracies to frame Gabe Cazares, mayor of Clearwater, Florida, on false hit-and-run charges.
[edit] Involved Parties
Mary Sue Hubbard, Cindy Raymond, Gerald Bennett Wolfe, Henning Heldt, Duke Snider, Gregory Willardson, Richard Weigand, Mitchell Herman, Sharon Thomas, Jane Kember, and Mo Budlong, all high-ranking Scientologists, were convicted and sent to prison, while Kendrick Moxon was listed as an "unindicted co-conspirator" for providing false handwriting samples to the FBI.[1] As of 1999, Moxon is Scientology’s lead in-house attorney.[1] L. Ron Hubbard himself was named by federal prosecutors as an "unindicted co-conspirator."[4]
[edit] Effect of the Scandal
The Church has been notably reluctant to discuss the operation's details; typical statements by members and operatives are often vague comments saying that the Guardian's Office (GO) had been "infiltrated" and "set up" to fail in its mission to protect the Church, that those involved were "purged" from the Church, without detailing what actually happened (although it has been suggested many of those involved and "purged" remained in important positions of power within the church).[5] Church spokespersons on the Internet and elsewhere have been known to claim the operatives were convicted of "stealing photocopy paper."[6]
[edit] Effects in Canada
As a result of documents stolen from public and private agencies in Canada and information on other covert activities found as evidence collected in the Operation Snow White case[7][8], investigations into the Church of Scientology in Ontario were started. This eventually resulted in a large police raid of the Church of Scientology in Toronto, 3 March to 4 March 1983. The R. v. Church of Scientology of Toronto case began 1991-04-23[9], resulting in seven members being convicted, and two convictions of criminal Breach of the Public Trust against the church itself.
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Ortega, Tony. "Double Crossed", Phoenix New Times, New Times Media, 1999-12-23. Retrieved on 2006-06-12.
- ^ Miller, Russell (1987). Bare-faced Messiah, The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard. Henry Holt & Co. ISBN 0-8050-0654-0.
- ^ Marshall, John. "Hubbard still gave orders, records show", The Globe and Mail, 1980-01-24. Retrieved on 2006-09-14. (archived at rickross.com)
- ^ Robert W. Welkos, Joel Sappell. "Burglaries and Lies Paved a Path to Prison", Los Angeles Times, 1990-06-24. Retrieved on 2006-05-22.
- ^ The President answers your questions: What is the Guardian’s Office and does it still exist?
- ^ Ortega, Tony (Sept. 9, 2001). "Sympathy for the Devil". New Times Los Angeles. Convenience link at http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/newtimes-toryC-92701.html
- ^ John Marshall, Secret Ontario documents found in U.S. cult's files, The Globe and Mail, January 22, 1980.
- ^ John Marshall, Cult harassment, spying in Canada documented, The Globe and Mail, January 23, 1980.
- ^ Reynolds, W. Richard. "Scientology church on trial in Canada", St. Petersburg Times, 1991-04-23, p. 8.A. Retrieved on 2006-09-05.
[edit] External links
- 1977 Grand Jury Criminal Indictment, legal documents
- Stipulation of Evidence, legal document
- The convicted conspirator's appeal, legal document
