U.S. Charges Scientology Conspiracy - 1978-08-16

U.S. Charges Scientology Conspiracy August 16, 1978, Timothy S. Robinson, Washington Post

---

Eleven high officials and agents of the Church of Scientology, including the wife of the founder, L. Ron Hubbard, were charged here yesterday in an allegedly widespread conspiracy to plant spies in government agencies, steal official documents and bug government meetings.

Much of the evidence outlined against the church's officials in the 28-count criminal indictment appears to be based on the church's own internal memorandums and other documents. The memorandums directed church operatives to "use any method" in its battle with the government.

Church spies were used, according to the indicment, to find out about Scientology's tax-exempt status, rumage through government files to get information on the church and on persons or groups it perceived to be its "enemies." They were also used as an "early warning system" to protect Hubbard from government acrunity, the indicment alleged.

Wikipedia cite:

{{cite news | author = Timothy S. Robinson | title = U.S. Charges Scientology Conspiracy | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/08/16/us-charges-scientology-conspiracy/082e8257-b94f-4681-93c1-b1f60a5d8930/?utm_term=.8f77f8f3688d | work = Washington Post | date = August 16, 1978 | accessdate = February 17, 2017 }}