Tim Ballard: From Homeland Security To Controversy Amidst Church Ties

Tim Ballard, the former Homeland Security special agent who inspired the surprise box office hit Sound of Freedom, has fallen out of favor with a prominent leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, according to online media outlet Vice News. Ballard has risen in prominence in recent months, after Jim Caviezel portrayed him in the Eduardo Verástegui-directed movie, which is the 10th highest-grossing film this year with a haul of more than $183 million. The film followed Ballard as he set up Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), an anti-child-trafficking organization.

Vice News is now reporting that Ballard had claimed prominent Mormon President M. Russell Ballard played a central role in OUR's operations—as well as backing his personal business ventures—as part of a bid to attract Americans to the Mormon faith. Citing notes from a since-closed criminal inquiry, a transcript of an interview between a former OUR executive and investigators read, per Vice News: "Tim is fully convinced that he is supposed to be the 'Mormon Messiah and lead people back to the church."

However, a spokesperson for the church has told the outlet that while Elder Ballard once had a close relationship with Tim Ballard—to whom he is not related—the OUR founder "betrayed their friendship, through the unauthorized use of President Ballard's name for Tim Ballard's personal advantage and activity regarded as morally unacceptable." The alleged action described as "morally unacceptable" has not been specified.

According to Salt Lake City Fox affiliate KSTU, Ballard responded to the church allegations while making a speech in Boston. "It's not true, nothing you hear is true," he told the crowd. "This is breaking down my family like you can't believe."

• Tim Ballard was inspired by Jim Caviezel's portrayal in Sound of Freedom.
• He founded OUR to combat child trafficking.
• His relationship with the Church has become controversial.

Days before Sound of Freedom's July release, Tim Ballard departed from OUR following employee complaints about his conduct that led to an internal investigation. He is now with the SPEAR Fund, a new anti-trafficking organization.

In a statement shared with Newsweek via the SPEAR Fund, Tim Ballard said: "Evil pedophiles will stop at nothing, and they have allies in government, in the media, in big corporations, and even in public institutions. They continue to lie about and attempt to destroy my good name...and they will never stop."

"I want everyone to know that I and our vast army of supporters will likewise never stop. We will keep fighting for the vulnerable all over the globe, and we know that the truth will always prevail," he continued. "I am a faithful Member in good standing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints," the statement said. "I believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Scriptures, and I believe in our faith with my whole heart. That will never change."

Tim Ballard went on to question the veracity of the statement accusing him of "morally unacceptable" behavior, adding that his church "has not publicly verified its authenticity." He concluded that "nothing will change my core beliefs. If someone within the church did release this statement, I am absolutely confident that the right people will step in and ensure that proper due process is followed as the rules of our church dictate."

When contacted by Newsweek, a spokesperson for OUR confirmed that Ballard resigned from the organization on June 22 of this year. "He has permanently separated from O.U.R.," read the statement, in part. The spokesperson added that OUR "is confident in its future as the leading organization committed to combatting sex trafficking and saving children who have been captured and sold into slavery."

Vice News has also reported that Ballard was accused of sexual misconduct involving seven women before his departure from OUR. A spokesperson for OUR told Newsweek in a statement that it "is dedicated to combatting sexual abuse and does not tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination by anyone in its organization."

"O.U.R. retained an independent law firm to conduct a comprehensive investigation of all relevant allegations, and O.U.R. continues to assess and improve the governance of the organization and protocols for its operations," they added. "To