I've been bothered by Mark Bunker's arrest, and the subsequent charges lodged against him, ever since it happened. I don't believe for a moment he committed any crime. I do think that he'll likely be acquitted, if this ever gets to trial.

Still, it is a Big Win for Scientology. Bob Minton has to pay for Bunker's defense, and a dollar spent on criminal defense lawyers is a dollar that isn't going into the fight against the cult. (Minton has money, but it's manifestly not unlimited, or he would have had a camera in a van across the street, filming the events.) Bunker's work has been interfered with, him having to commute to Chicago for hearings and the trial.

The scienos have shown not only that they're ruthless, but that they can get away with being ruthless. Even when - as I hope - Bunker is acquitted, that point won't be lost. People - like Neil Gaiman - who would like to speak out publicly against Scientology will continue to be afraid to do so, because there will be repercussions, and not everybody is prepared to have their dirty laundry aired in public. (I am certainly not!)

Combined with the dismissal of the Lisa murder charges, this hasn't been a good year for the Good Guys.

osb