Clearwater Sun, 3-Nov-79: Judge rules papers available to public
Mark Dallara
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Judge rules papers available to public
By Richard Leiby
Sun Staff Writer
WASHINGTON - Documents revealing a Scientology espionage campaign against
government agencies ranging from the IRS to the Clearwater City Commission
were declared open to further public inspection Friday afternoon by a
federal judge.
Scientology attorneys had argued strenuously that the papers should be
sealed because they would cause "irreparable injury" to the church.
The public availability of the dozen cartons of government-seized
documents - the basis of last week's conspiracy convication of nine top
chruch officials - was in doubt until U.S. District Judge Charles R.
Richey issued his ruling.
Scientologists sought to reclaim the papers, or at least block their
release to the media on grounds they no longer were crucial to the
government's case.
But Richey, who personally reviewed the material, ruled the
Scientologists' argument invalid.
Richey said that returning or sealing the documents would "make a folly of
the First Amendment."
The papers - largely confidential top-secret memos between sect leaders -
include details of a Scientology scheme to "take control" of Clearwater by
discrediting and spying on public officials. The documents also show a
concerted far-reaching Scientology espionage campaign against government
agencies such as the FBI, CIA, IRS and Justice Department, and private
groups such as the American Medical Association and the American
Psychological Association, long viewed by the church as "enemies."
The papers, among more than 40 cartons of evidence seized during an FBI
raid at the cult's Losa Angeles headquarters in July 1978, show the
Clearwater branch was involved in a worldwide spying mission dubbed "Snow
White."
The operation was orderd by sect founder L. Ron Hubbard and carried out by
ranking "guardians," including his wife, Mary Sue, the documents show.
Mrs. Hubbard and eight other top church officials were found guilty last
Friday of conspiring to break into government officies, steal documents
and bug meetings. Two indicted guardians remain in England, where
extradition proceedings will begin next week.
Specific operations relating to Clearwater - projects "Goldmine" and
"Normandie" - appeared to have been launched when Scientologists arrived
in Clearwater four years ago under the guise of a group called United
Churches of Florida. Only limited descriptions of these operations were
among papers Richey released, but one document showed Scientologists were
ordered to probe all aspects of city and county government and attempt to
malign groups and individuals the church viewed as enemies.
Scientology attorney Michael Hertzberg attempted to convince Richey Friday
to temporarily block any further release of the documents and to return
them to the church. Hertzberg argued the government's need for the
evidence "terminated with the guilty verdict of this court last Friday."
Without citing specific instances, Hertzberg continued that public release
of the material would cause "irreparably injury" to Scientology activity.
Spokesman for the California-based ect have indicated the documents would
be damaging because they tell nothing about the actual working of the
Church of Scientology or of the crimes of government agencies which the
church has been fighting for over 25 years."
But Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Tabakman said the documents would be
used in the upcoming cases of two indicted guardians, Mo Budlong and Jane
Kember, now in England.
Tabakman said returning the documents to the cult also would hinder grand
jury probes in Tampa and New York.
Richey also rejected the Scientologist's compromise request that if the
documents were not returned, they at least should be kept sealed.
"This case is the only one in this court in which documents are not being
put on the public record," the judge said. "To continue to do so would
not serve the public interest."
Scientologists asked for the restraining order Thursday night after Richey
released documents showing the sect kept dossiers and ran "rumour
campaigns" against public officials and private medical groups around the
nation.
Richey also denied a last-minute appeal attempt after Friday's hearing but
court officials said Scientologists will get another chance to stay
Richey's order in the U.S. Court of Appeal next week.
Richey apparently will continue making documents available on Monday. He
has been reviewing the papers privately since the conviction of the cult
leaders and issuing those he feels are not damaging to innocent parties.
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Mark Dallara ATG exposed:
mdal...@kcii.com www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/ATG
*** BANNED by $cientology's Internet filter! ***
Ron Newman
> From the Clearwater Sun, Saturday, 3-Nov-79:
>
> --BEGIN QUOTE--
>
> Judge rules papers available to public
>
> By Richard Leiby
> Sun Staff Writer
This is the same reporter who later wrote about Scientology for
the Washington Post:
Scientology Fiction
The Church's War Against Its Critics----and Truth
The Washington Post, December 25, 1994
http://www.entheta.net/entheta/media/print/1994-001.htm
CyberSurfing - Scientology Deplores Net Losses.
The Washington Post, February 2, 1995
http://www.entheta.net/entheta/media/print/1995-001.htm
See also
Church in Cyberspace
Its Sacred Writ Is on the Net
Its Lawyers Are on the Case
The Washington Post, August 19, 1995
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/Fishman/OT_Fight/washpost-fisher.htm
which got Leiby and the Washington Post sued by Scientology. (The suit
was dismissed by Judge Leonie Brinkema.)
--
Ron Newman rne...@thecia.net
http://www2.thecia.net/users/rnewman/
Fredric Lord Xenu Rice
>From the Clearwater Sun, Saturday, 3-Nov-79:
>Scientology attorneys had argued strenuously that the papers should be
>sealed because they would cause "irreparable injury" to the church.
Yes, exposing fraud and criminal activity usually does put quite a
bucket of water on the fire.
--- "de omnibus dubitandum" All is to be doubted --- Descartes
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