Operation Underground Railroad, Psychic Intelligence, and ‘The Sound of Freedom’
Sep 25, 2023
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Tim Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad, discusses his controversial involvement and investigations, including sexual misconduct allegations. The podcast explores the whiteboard scheme, psychic intelligence, and the Mormon church's denouncement. It also touches on the debate over undercover operations against child trafficking and the controversy surrounding Tim Ballard and M. Russell Ballard.
Tim Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad, has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and questions about his credibility and the veracity of his actions and claims.
Investigations into Operation Underground Railroad revealed a pattern of exaggeration, misrepresentation, and questionable financial practices, raising concerns about their integrity as an organization.
Unconventional practices within Operation Underground Railroad, such as relying on psychic intelligence and manipulation of public sentiment, have sparked debates about the legitimacy and accountability of organizations involved in anti-trafficking efforts.
Deep dives
Tim Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad
Tim Ballard is a self-styled anti-slavery activist who founded Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), a nonprofit organization in 2013. He claimed to be a former CIA agent and Homeland Security Investigations investigator, and he presented OUR as an organization that conducts paramilitary missions to rescue child sex slaves. However, investigations into OUR revealed a pattern of exaggeration and misrepresentation, including false claims about their partnerships, international operations, and the involvement of law enforcement agencies. Ballard, a devout member of the LDS Church, has also been accused of using his friendship with M. Russell Ballard, a prominent church leader, to further his personal and financial interests. The LDS Church has issued a rare statement denouncing Tim Ballard and stating that he betrayed his friendship with M. Russell Ballard. This revelation has raised questions about Ballard's credibility and the veracity of his actions and claims.
Allegations of Sexual Misconduct
Further investigations into Tim Ballard revealed allegations of sexual misconduct against him. While no charges were filed, internal investigations at OUR led to Ballard's departure from the organization amidst these allegations. The details of the allegations have not been fully disclosed, but they have raised concerns about Ballard's integrity and the potential harm caused under the guise of anti-trafficking efforts. These revelations have prompted scrutiny of OUR's financial practices and the exploitation of donors' funds as well.
Unconventional Practices and Controversies
The investigation into OUR also uncovered unconventional practices and controversies surrounding the organization. This includes the involvement of Janet Russen, who claimed psychic abilities and communicated with dead figures, providing operational intelligence for OUR's paramilitary missions. Moreover, a whiteboard diagram drawn by Tim Ballard outlined a scheme to establish a for-profit company named 'Slave Steelers' to control a network of nonprofit organizations under his personal brand. These revelations shed light on the lack of operational planning, potential misrepresentation to donors, and the manipulation of public sentiment to further personal and religious agendas. The reporting on these unorthodox practices has generated significant public interest and skepticism, leading to debates within the LDS community and wider discussions about the legitimacy and accountability of organizations involved in anti-trafficking efforts.
Controversy Surrounding Mormonism and American Evangelicals
There has been a longstanding tension between American evangelicals and Mormons, with many evangelicals not considering Mormons to be Christians. This tension has been overshadowed by the popularity and support for Tim Ballard's work, which some evangelicals see as a covert means of conversion. It remains unclear whether evangelicals are unaware of this or simply do not care, suggesting a potential shift in political discourse.
The Intersection of Child Trafficking, Rhetoric, and Saving Children
Concern for saving children from trafficking often becomes a unifying cause that can transcend religious and ideological differences. However, this noble objective has also been historically exploited to justify extreme rhetoric and actions. While child trafficking is a real and serious issue, the debate arises when attempting to balance the urgency to save children with ethical boundaries, such as undercover operations and potential harm to trafficking victims.
This summer, a movie called The Sound of Freedom took America by storm. The hero was Tim Ballard, the founder of an organization called Operation Underground Railroad. The movie depicted Ballard as an avenging hero who rescued trafficked children from a life of slavery. The truth, we’re all finding out, is something more complicated and a lot less heroic.
Ballard left the organization around the time Sound of Freedom premiered, following an investigation into his sexual misconduct. It’s a wild story involving the The Church of Latter Day Saints, a psychic channeling the Prophet Nephi, and serious criminal investigations.
Here to tell us about it are Vice’s own Anna Merlan and Tim Marchman.
We’re recording CYBER live on Twitch. Watch live during the week. Follow us there to get alerts when we go live. We take questions from the audience and yours might just end up on the show.
