SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH: Former CIA agent Tim Ballard's affiliation with the Mormon church, has come under scrutiny, with mounting indications of an excommunication, albeit unconfirmed.
This follows a series of troubling allegations regarding his leadership of the anti-trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) and sexual misconduct.
Tim Ballard's activism
Tim Ballard, a former CIA agent, emerged as a prominent figure in the anti-human trafficking movement. He founded Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) with the noble mission of rescuing children from the harrowing clutches of sex slavery.
He declared, "I was directly called by God to find the lost children."
Notably, his extraordinary journey and the mission of OUR were immortalized in the film 'Sound of Freedom'. Portrayed by Jim Caviezel, Tim's story captured hearts and minds, generating $14 million in revenue and conquering the Latin American box office.
Some have speculated that the choice of Caviezel, known for his portrayal of Jesus in 'The Passion of the Christ', hinted at divine alignment, as Tim had repeatedly stated that he was "supposed to be the 'Mormon Messiah and lead people back to the church'."
Controversies surrounding Tim Ballard and alleged excommunication from the Mormon church
The narrative of Tim Ballard being a "Mormon Messiah" took a dramatic turn with allegations of sexual harassment emerging against him.
According to reports, several women accused Tim of manipulating them into intimate situations during their involvement with OUR. He allegedly told the women that such actions were necessary to "convince traffickers they were married."
The Mormon church, of which Tim is a member, responded with a coded statement that condemned "activity regarded as morally unacceptable." However, the church did not explicitly state what this activity was.
In response to the controversy, his wife, Katherine Ballard, emphasized that they were "in touch" with their local church leaders and that "such conversations - as required by the church - are strictly confidential and extremely personal."
It appears that the church has now severed ties with him altogether. Reports suggest that a church disciplinary council was held on September 27, followed by a letter notifying Tim of his excommunication two days later.
The church has not officially confirmed this development but sources told the Daily Mail that its actions may be related to protecting its legal position and not alienating its base, many of whom have been fiercely loyal to Tim and his work.
Tim Ballard's response to the supposed excommunication from the Mormon church
The allegations against Tim Ballard have generated mixed reactions from the public and his supporters. While some remain steadfast in their support for him, others have distanced themselves from the embattled activist.
Amid the controversy, Tim initially vehemently denied the allegations against him, questioning the authenticity of the Mormon church's statement, declaring, "It's not true, nothing you hear is true."
However, in a subsequent video posted on Instagram, Tim appeared to accept that his missions did involve pairing up with fake wives on undercover missions but justified it as a legitimate tactic known as the "couples ruse."
This tactic, he claimed, was deployed to deceive traffickers and allowed male operatives to reject offers of underage sex by citing their "wives' disapproval."
Mormon church's involvement in OUR
The Mormon church's public rebuke of Tim Ballard represents a significant departure from its typical handling of allegations of sexual abuse within its ranks.
However, the church's involvement may be attributed to his claims that President M Russell Ballard, a senior member of the church's leadership, had endorsed OUR's missions.
According to a closed criminal investigation into OUR conducted by a Utah county attorney and the FBI, Tim had been asserting behind closed doors that his anti-trafficking activities had the backing of President M Russell Ballard.
The two Ballards are not related, but they developed a close friendship, acknowledged by the Mormon church.
The church disputes Tim's claims, revealed by the FBI probe, that President M Russell Ballard had given his blessing for OUR's exploits to be part of a larger mission to bring Americans to the Mormon faith.
As per the investigators, a former OUR member stated, "Tim is fully convinced that he is supposed to be the 'Mormon Messiah and lead people back to the church'."
In response, a spokesman for the Mormon church clarified that while the two Ballards had built a friendship based on "a shared interest in looking after God's children wherever they are," they don't share the relationship anymore.
The statement further explained that "once it became clear that Tim Ballard had betrayed their friendship, through the unauthorized use of President Ballard's name for Tim Ballard's personal advantage and activity regarded as morally unacceptable, President Ballard withdrew his association."
Tim Ballard's defense and waning support
Tim Ballard continued to defend himself against the allegations, insisting that he had never used President M Russell Ballard's name and had not betrayed their friendship.
He maintained that the use of the "couples ruse" was a legitimate tactic employed during undercover missions.
In one instance, Tim shared a picture of himself in boxer briefs covered in henna tattoos, including one with the word "joder" (Spanish for f**k). The photo appeared to align with descriptions provided by some of his female accusers.
He claimed that the picture was taken by a staffer and sent to operatives for archiving purposes, reiterating the tactical nature of such images in the field.
In light of the allegations and controversies, supporters who were once closely aligned with Tim have begun to distance themselves from him.
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes, a longtime friend of the activist, expressed shock and sadness in response to the allegations, indicating that he would not be endorsing any candidate in Utah's upcoming 2024 Senate race, retracting his earlier statement of support.
Prominent conservative commentator Glenn Beck, who had been one of Tim's long-standing supporters, openly admitted feeling "duped" by the OUR founder. He characterized the allegations of sexual misconduct as "really bad."
OUR's response to allegations against Tim Ballard
Operation Underground Railroad (OUR) confirmed that Tim Ballard resigned from the organization on June 22 and emphasized its dedication to combating sexual abuse. A spokesman reiterated that the organization did not tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination by anyone within its ranks.
On September 28, Suzette Rasmussen, an attorney representing several former female OUR employees, stated that her clients had endured "sexual harassment, spiritual manipulation, grooming, and sexual misconduct." She emphasized that the women "now stand together to affirm the truth behind these allegations."
While Rasmussen spoke on behalf of her clients at a press conference, she did not provide further details on the nature of Tim's alleged misconduct or indicate whether the women planned to pursue legal action.
As the allegations persist and the Mormon church further distances itself from Tim, his future remains uncertain.
This is based on information reported by the Daily Mail. MEAWW could not independently verify the aforementioned claims.
