FACTNet Alert
October 29, 1998
In late August 1998, FACTNet director Lawrence Wollersheim conducted about 20 hours of interviews with Jesse Prince, who was formerly the second-in-command of Scientology. The purpose of FACTNet's interviews was to collect information for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), to aid the FBI's research into illegalities performed by Scientology.
The testimony Jesse has provided in his interviews with FACTNet is extremely disturbing, even to those already familiar with much of Scientology's wrongdoings. Jesse has witnessed the leadership of Scientology bugging the homes of its own "ministers"; the leadership of Scientology laughing over a former colleague's death; the leadership of Scientology ordering illegal copyright registrations, destroying court evidence, tampering with judges and fixing an election in a small California town. Jesse has seen members forced to work so many hours they endure permanent injuries; he has seen members forced to run around a pole in the desert for 10 hours a day, day after day; and he has seen members die because they were refused proper medical treatment. He has observed manipulative treatment of John Travolta and Tom Cruise, Scientology's celebrities. And much more.
What has been provided by Jesse Prince's interviews is a look into the very highest levels of Scientology and the pervasive criminality that takes place there. The information is so powerful that FACTNet has not only submitted transcripts of the interview tapes to the FBI, but is also making them available worldwide through the FACTNet web site.
Jesse was a Scientologist from 1976 to 1992 and served in the highest ranks in Scientology's powerful Religious Technology Center (RTC), even serving on its Board of Directors. After leaving in 1992, Jesse spent six years working to reconstruct a life outside Scientology, but did not speak publicly about his Scientology experience until 1998.
Jesse's silence was due to his vast knowledge of criminal activities pervading Scientology, his possible culpability for having partaken in illegal acts on behalf of Scientology, and his fear of Scientology's vengeance. He has shown great courage and has put himself at considerable personal risk to tell the world what he knows about Scientology. Jesse's speaking out despite the death threats he has received has provided a beacon of hope. He has sent a profound message to others, to help them come forward. Now it appears that other high-level Scientology executives may also be coming forward with their stories.
The information in these transcripts is so important that FACTNet believes it could be dangerous not to release it to the public.
Hopefully, exposing these allegations will eliminate a great deal of future harm by preventing people from joining Scientology and convincing current members to leave.
Also for this reason, FACTNet encourages the further dissemination of these transcripts, as appropriate, to governments, embassies, leaders, law enforcement agencies, media, and especially families of current Scientologists. FACTNet recommends getting Jesse Prince's series of articles to everyone currently in Scientology. Upon reading the transcripts, even the most hardened Scientologists will have powerful doubts about whether they have been profoundly and cruelly deceived.
Complete, uncensored transcripts available at <http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/jesse_tapes.html>.