What is operation freak out?

Operation Freakout was a covert project conducted by the Church of Scientology in the 1970s. The aim of the project was to destroy the reputation and credibility of a journalist named Paulette Cooper, who had published critical reports about the church. The project involved illegal activities such as stealing Cooper's personal files, forging documents to incriminate her, and framing her for bomb threats.

The Church of Scientology's leaders believed that Cooper posed a significant threat to their organization and wanted to discredit her publicly. The operation was led by high-ranking members of the church's intelligence division, known as the Guardian’s Office.

However, the operation was exposed when the FBI raided the church's offices in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles in 1977. The documents and evidence found during the raid led to the indictment and conviction of several key members of the Guardian’s Office, including its director, Mary Sue Hubbard, the wife of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Operation Freakout remains a significant example of how an organization can use illegal tactics to silence its critics and opponents. It also highlights the importance of protecting freedom of speech and the press, even in the face of powerful organizations.