Editing David Miscavige (section)

==2009–present: criminal investigation and lawsuits==
In 2009, the ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'' published a series titled "The Truth Rundown," which featured allegations by former Scientology executives that Miscavige had repeatedly humiliated and [[physical abuse|physically beaten]] his staff, and had confined Scientologists in degrading conditions in a building at Gold Base known as "[[The Hole (Scientology)|The Hole]]."<ref name="TruthRunDown" /><ref name=Reitman /> The series included interviews with [[Mike Rinder]], former spokesperson for Scientology and director of the organization's [[Office of Special Affairs]], and [[Mark Rathbun]], the former Inspector General of the RTC. Rinder has said that he was physically assaulted by Miscavige on about fifty occasions.<ref name="TruthRunDown" /> These allegations have been supported by other former Scientologists. [[Lawrence Wright]], author of ''[[Going Clear (book)|Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief]]'', interviewed twelve individuals who reported having been personally attacked by Miscavige and twenty-one people who say they witnessed such attacks.{{r|wright|p=345}} Scientology denies all of these reports.<ref name="Tobin" />

"The Truth Rundown" was recognized with journalistic honors, including the 2010 Gold Medal for Public Service award from the Florida Society of News Editors.<ref>{{cite news |author=Sentinel Staff Report |title=Orlando Sentinel wins 17 awards from Florida Society of News Editors |work=Orlando Sentinel |location=Florida |publisher=www.orlandosentinel.com |date=June 18, 2010 |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-orlando-sentinel-fsne-awards-20100618,0,3887288.story |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160521193051/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-orlando-sentinel-fsne-awards-20100618,0,3887288.story |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 21, 2016 |access-date=June 18, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=FSNE Gold Medal for Public Service |work=FSNE 2010 Journalism Awards |location=Florida |publisher=Florida Society of News Editors |date=June 18, 2010 |url=http://fsne.org/2010awards/ |access-date=June 18, 2010 |quote=Inside Scientology – The ''St. Petersburg Times'' reporting on the Church of Scientology is in the finest traditions of American journalism. The reporting by Joseph Childs and Thomas Tobin stands out for the ways in which it held accountable the powerful. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624185654/http://fsne.org/2010awards/ |archive-date=June 24, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Winners of 76th Annual National Headliner Awards |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 24, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/24/us/AP-US-Headliner-Awards-List.html?ref=news |access-date =March 25, 2010}} {{dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Print Division – Daily Newspapers and News Syndicates – Writing & Reporting |work=National Headliner Awards |publisher=www.nationalheadlinerawards.com |url=http://www.nationalheadlinerawards.com/Winners2010Print.html |access-date=March 25, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325023131/http://www.nationalheadlinerawards.com/Winners2010Print.html |archive-date=March 25, 2010 }}</ref> The series was cited as a basis for subsequent journalistic investigations, including a weeklong series hosted on [[CNN]] by [[Anderson Cooper]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Anderson Cooper to Scientology's David Miscavige: 'it's on' |url=https://nationalpost.com/news/anderson-cooper-to-scientologys-david-miscavige-its-on |work=National Post |date=March 28, 2010}}</ref> [[Jefferson Hawkins|Jeff Hawkins]], a former marketing guru for Scientology, reported attending a meeting where Miscavige "jumped up on the conference room table, like with his feet right on the conference room table, launched himself across the table at me – I was standing – battered my face, and then shoved me down on the floor."<ref>{{cite news|title=Scientology: A History of Violence; Students Charged in Bullying Case (Transcript)|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1003/30/acd.01.html|work=Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees|publisher=CNN |access-date=November 6, 2013|date=March 30, 2010}}</ref> Amy Scobee, another ex-Scientologist, corroborated Hawkins' account.<ref name="ecclesiasticalj" />

Scientology representatives have consistently denied abuse by Miscavige, insisting that the allegations come from [[apostate]]s motivated by bitterness or attempting to [[extortion|extort]] money from the organization.<ref name="TruthRunDown" /><ref name="Tobin">{{cite web |last1=Tobin |first1=Thomas C |last2=Childs |first2=Joe |date=January 13, 2013 |title=Scientology defectors describe violence, humiliation in 'the Hole' |website=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/scientology-defectors-describe-violence-humiliation-in-the-hole/1270047/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901155336/https://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/scientology-defectors-describe-violence-humiliation-in-the-hole/1270047/ |archive-date=September 1, 2013 }}</ref>{{r|sptimes1998}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012139.ece |title=Scientology: Origins, celebrities and holdings |access-date=April 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526073416/http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012139.ece |archive-date=May 26, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Hawkins' claims were responded to by Scientology when he reiterated them in a documentary, saying they were "fabricated" and referring to him as "a discredited anti-Scientology media source."<ref>{{cite web|author=Erin Jensen |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2016/12/21/leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath-episode-4-/95689966/ |title='Scientology' accuses church leader David Miscavige of physical abuse |work=USA Today |date=December 21, 2016 |access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref> Scientology executive David Bloomberg said that it was Hawkins who attacked Miscavige.<ref name="ecclesiasticalj">{{cite news|title=Scientology: Ecclesiastical Justice, Part 3 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology|first1=Thomas|last1=Tobin|first2=Joe|last2=Childs|date=June 23, 2009|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2009/06/23/ecclesiastical-justice/|access-date=December 11, 2011}}</ref> Miscavige sent an open letter to the newspaper challenging the integrity of the reporters and labeling their sources as "lying," after the persons in question had been removed from the Scientology organization for what Miscavige described as "fundamental crimes against the Scientology religion."<ref name="DMLetter" /> Scientology also commissioned an independent review of the ''Times''{{'}} reporting, but has not, to date, released those findings.<ref name=wusf>{{cite news|title=Scientology Hires Reporters to Investigate St. Petersburg Times|first=Scott|last=Finn|publisher=[[WUSF (FM)|WUSF Public Media]]|date=February 25, 2010|url=http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2010/02/25/scientology_hires_reporters_to_investigate_st._petersburg_times|access-date=October 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706231444/http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2010/02/25/scientology_hires_reporters_to_investigate_st._petersburg_times|archive-date=July 6, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=reldis>{{cite news|title=The Rundown Truth: Scientology Changes Strategy in War with Media|first=Hugh B.|last=Urban |author-link=Hugh Urban|work=[[Religion Dispatches]]|date=March 17, 2010 |url=http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/atheologies/2358/the_rundown_truth:_scientology_changes_strategy_in_war_with_media_ |access-date=October 18, 2010}}</ref>

Miscavige is portrayed within Scientology as "a servant of Hubbard's message, not an agent in his own right."<ref name="invention">{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=James R. |author-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |author2=Olav Hammer |title=The Invention of Sacred Tradition |url=https://archive.org/details/inventionsacredt00lewi |url-access=limited |publisher = Cambridge University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-521-86479-4 |page=[https://archive.org/details/inventionsacredt00lewi/page/n48 36] |author2-link=Olav Hammer}}</ref> Official Scientology websites describe him as Hubbard's "trusted friend."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sappell |first1=Joel |title=Scientology Won't Set Me Free |url=https://www.lamag.com/longform/the-tip-of-the-spear/5/ |website=Los Angeles Magazine |date=December 18, 2012 |access-date=November 20, 2019}}</ref> Miscavige uses Scientology publications as well as professionally produced videos of gala events, at which he acts as [[master of ceremonies]], to communicate with Scientologists worldwide.{{r|sptimes1998}} According to the organization, as the RTC's chairman of the board his primary task is to "preserve, maintain and protect" the Scientology organization.{{r|sptimes1998}} In 2012, Miscavige opened Scientology's "National Affairs Office" in Washington, D.C., which he declared to be, "an office designed to give back to a United States government that steadfastly guaranteed our religious rights, the very freedom that allows us to do what we are doing today."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/local-news/scientology-expands-its-presence-in-washington.php |title=Scientology Expands Its Presence in Washington |publisher=Washingtonian |date=September 14, 2012 |access-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref> Scientology says the National Affairs Office was built "to oversee programs around the country and the world dealing with human rights, drug addiction, literacy and disaster response."<ref>{{cite journal | title = Solons Salute Scientologists | journal = CQ Weekly | date = September 24, 2012 | first = Shawn | last = Zeller}}</ref>

===FBI investigation===
In his role as the leader of Scientology, Miscavige has been the subject of law enforcement investigations, including by the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI), into suspected [[human trafficking]] and [[forced labor|slavery]].<ref name=Swa11/><ref name=Wri11/> He is also the subject of ongoing lawsuits involving [[child abuse]], human trafficking and forced labor. Miscavige was investigated as part of wide-ranging investigation into Scientology by the FBI in 2009 and 2010, which focused particularly on criminal activities at Gold Base, against which the FBI had planned a raid before the investigation was discontinued.<ref name=Swa11>{{cite news |last1=Swaine |first1=Jon |title=Church of Scientology investigated by FBI|location=London|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8309698/Church-of-Scientology-investigated-by-FBI.html |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=February 8, 2011}}</ref><ref name=Wri11>{{cite magazine |last1=Wright |first1=Lawrence|author-link=Lawrence Wright|title=Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/02/14/the-apostate-lawrence-wright |magazine=[[The New Yorker]]|location=New York|publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=February 7, 2011}}</ref><ref name=Ort12a>{{cite news |last=Ortega |first=Tony |author-link=Tony Ortega|title=FBI Investigation of Scientology: Already Over Before We Even Heard of It |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/03/19/fbi-investigation-of-scientology-already-over-before-we-even-heard-of-it/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727120251/https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/03/19/fbi-investigation-of-scientology-already-over-before-we-even-heard-of-it/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 27, 2017 |work=[[The Village Voice]] |publisher=Voice Media Group |date=March 19, 2012}}</ref>

===Scientology Network===
Scientology launched the [[Scientology Network]], a [[DIRECTV]] broadcast and [[Over-the-top media service|OTT streaming]] service, on March 12, 2018, with Miscavige introducing its inaugural broadcast in a rare on-camera appearance.<ref>{{cite web|quote=Posted 8:24 PM, March 12, 2018, by CNN Wire |url=http://ktla.com/2018/03/12/church-of-scientology-launches-new-network-airing-on-directtv-streaming-devices/ |title=Church of Scientology Launches New Network Airing on DirectTV, Streaming Devices |publisher=KTLA |date=March 12, 2018 |access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Scientology Leader David Miscavige Makes Rare On-Camera Appearance as the Church Launches TV Network | website=People | date=March 15, 2018 | url=https://people.com/tv/david-miscavige-rare-on-camera-appearance-scientology-network-launch/ | access-date=June 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Elber|first1=Lynn|title=Church of Scientology launches TV channel|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/church-of-scientology-launches-tv-channel/2018/03/12/7fc90f7c-266b-11e8-a227-fd2b009466bc_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313073225/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/church-of-scientology-launches-tv-channel/2018/03/12/7fc90f7c-266b-11e8-a227-fd2b009466bc_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 13, 2018|access-date=March 14, 2018|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|agency=Associated Press|date=March 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Grove|first1=Lloyd|title=David Miscavige Comes Out of the Shadows on the First Night of Scientology's TV Network|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/david-miscavage-comes-out-of-the-shadows-on-the-first-night-of-scientologys-tv-network|access-date=March 14, 2018|work=The Daily Beast|date=March 13, 2018|language=en}}</ref> The network is produced by Scientology Media Productions in Los Angeles, a facility opened by the organization in May 2016. Addressing the crowd at the SMP opening, Miscavige called the channel "our uncorrupted communication line to the billions. Because as the saying goes, if you don't write your own story, someone else will."<ref>{{cite web|last=Heller |first=Emily |url=https://www.vox.com/2018/3/22/17144710/church-of-scientology-channel-tv |title=The Church of Scientology has launched a TV channel. It's weirdly familiar. |work=Vox |date=March 23, 2018 |access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Chiland |first=Elijah |url=https://la.curbed.com/2016/8/29/12700596/scientology-hollywood-studio-tv-channel-property |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831085819/http://la.curbed.com/2016/8/29/12700596/scientology-hollywood-studio-tv-channel-property |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 31, 2016 |title=What are Scientologists doing with their new LA film studio? – Curbed LA |publisher=La.curbed.com |date=August 29, 2016 |access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gibson |first=Kate |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/scientology-network-set-for-tv-launch/ |title=Scientology Network set for TV launch |work=CBS News |date=March 12, 2018 |access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alishagrauso/2016/06/22/tom-cruise-opens-50-million-scientology-movie-and-tv-studio-complex-in-hollywood/#653fae037369 |title=Scientology Opens $50 Million Movie And TV Studio Complex In Hollywood |work=Forbes.com |access-date=July 19, 2018}}</ref>

===Abuse lawsuits===
In 2019, a then-unnamed female individual, who was raised as a Scientologist and joined the Sea Org as Miscavige's steward at age 15, filed suit against Miscavige and Scientology.<ref name=Rio19>{{cite news |last1=Riotta |first1=Chris |title=Church of Scientology accused of child abuse and human trafficking in new lawsuit |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/scientology-church-abuse-scandal-lawsuit-human-trafficking-forced-labour-leah-reminisce-david-miscavige-a8968051.html|location=London|work=[[The Independent]] |publisher=Independent Digital News & Media |date=June 20, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Joh19>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Alex |title=Ex-Scientologist sues church and its leader alleging abuse, human trafficking|location=Los Angeles|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/religion/ex-scientology-member-sues-church-its-leader-alleging-abuse-human-n1019506 |work=[[NBC News]] |publisher=NBCUniversal |date=June 20, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Dic19>{{cite magazine |last1=Dickson |first1=E. J. |title=Church of Scientology Lawsuit Alleges Abuse and Human Trafficking|location=New York|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/scientology-lawsuit-abuse-human-trafficking-david-miscavige-851047/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |date=June 21, 2019}}</ref> The lawsuit also alleged [[kidnapping]], [[stalking]], libel, [[slander]], constructive [[Expectation of privacy (United States)|invasion of privacy]] and intentional infliction of emotional distress.<ref name=Rad19>{{cite news |title=Ex-Scientologist Accuses Church Of Trafficking & Starving Children In Scathing Lawsuit|location=New York|url=https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2019/10/ex-scientologist-valerie-haney-accuses-church-child-trafficking-lawsuit/ |work=RadarOnline |publisher=American Media, Inc. |date=October 1, 2019}}</ref> Lawyers for Scientology convinced a judge to move the case to internal church arbitration in January 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/valerie-haney-scientology-escape-car-trunk-religious-arbitration-david-miscavige-tom-cruise-elisabeth-moss-1234703982/ |title=She Escaped Scientology in the Trunk of a Car. Her Nightmare Is Far From Over |date=March 27, 2023 |first=Tony |last=Ortega |author-link=Tony Ortega |website=RollingStone |access-date=June 10, 2023}}</ref><ref name=McMa20>{{cite news |last1=McManus |first1=Tracey|location=St.{{nbsp}}Petersburg,{{nbsp}}FL|title=Clearwater woman drops lawsuit against Scientology alleging child sexual abuse |url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2020/06/11/clearwater-woman-drops-lawsuit-against-scientology-alleging-child-sexual-abuse/ |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |publisher=[[Times Publishing Company]] |date=June 11, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Miscavige is named in a lawsuit involving a series of rapes by Scientologist [[Danny Masterson]], and subsequent efforts by the Scientology organization to harass Masterson's victims.<ref name=Abc21>{{cite news |last1=Abcarian |first1=Robin |title=How the Church of Scientology hopes to quash a lawsuit by Danny Masterson's accusers |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-05-29/column-how-the-church-of-scientology-tried-to-keep-alleged-victims-of-danny-masterson |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 29, 2021}}</ref> Scientology's lawyers had tried to force the case into internal church arbitration, similar to the case in 2020, but this failed following a three-judge ruling in January 2022.<ref name=Madd22>{{cite news |last1=Maddaus |first1=Gene |title=Danny Masterson's Accusers Do Not Have to Go to Scientology Arbitration |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/danny-masterson-scientology-arbitration-appeals-ruling-1235158495/|location=Los Angeles|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation]] |date=January 20, 2022}}</ref><ref name=Netb22>{{cite news |last1=Netburn |first1=Deborah |title=Appeals court says accusers' case against Church of Scientology can proceed |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-01-20/appeals-court-says-former-scientologists-can-take-the-church-to-court |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 21, 2022}}</ref> 

Three former Scientology workers filed a lawsuit for human trafficking, and [[peonage]] of children as young as six years old, against Miscavige and Scientology in April 2022.<ref name=McMa22>{{cite news |last1=McManus |first1=Tracey |title=3 former Scientology workers sue, saying they were trafficked as children|location=St.{{nbsp}}Petersburg,{{nbsp}}FL|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/clearwater/2022/04/28/3-former-scientology-workers-sue-saying-they-were-trafficked-as-children/ |work=[[Tampa Bay Times]] |publisher=[[Times Publishing Company]] |date=April 28, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Schn22>{{cite news |last1=Schneiders |first1=Ben|location=Sydney|title=Scientology accused of child trafficking, forced labour of Australians |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/scientology-accused-of-child-trafficking-forced-labour-of-australians-20220427-p5aghi.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Nine Entertainment]] |date=April 28, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=Bol22>{{cite news |last1=Bolado |first1=Carolina |title=Ex-Scientologists Sue Church Claiming Forced Labor, Abuse - Law360 |url=https://www.law360.com/employment-authority/articles/1488360/ex-scientologists-sue-church-claiming-forced-labor-abuse |work=[[Law360]] |publisher=[[LexisNexis]]|location=New York|date=May 2, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The lawsuit also alleges repeated [[sexual assault]] of children by senior members of the Sea Org, of which Miscavige was leader at the time and remains so to the present.<ref name=McMa22/><ref name=Bol22/> The court overseeing the case was told by counsel for the plaintiffs that Miscavige was evading service in the case over a period of months, with at least fourteen attempts being made to serve the [[summons]]. The evasion included Miscavige ordering the security team at his house to prevent the summons from being delivered. The court found the allegations sufficiently credible that it ordered that Miscavige be served through the office of the [[Secretary of State of Florida]].<ref name=Schn22b>{{cite news |last1=Schneiders |first1=Ben |title=Scientology leader evades legal service in Australian trafficking case |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/scientology-leader-evades-legal-service-in-australian-trafficking-case-20220916-p5bim7.html|location=Sydney|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=Nine Group |date=September 17, 2022 |language=en}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=July 2025}}