'I'll not stop fighting': Leah Remini slams Scientology as 'mistrial' declared in Danny Masterson rape case
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Danny Masterson is off the hook as the court declared a 'mistrial' after jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision Wednesday, Nov 30. The Los Angeles court was hearing three counts of forcible rape against the 'That '70 Show' actor. However, many now hope that the retrial, scheduled for March, will bring a result. Among them was Leah Remini, who expressed her disappointment and said she was "heartbroken" for his alleged rape victims. Remini vowed that she would continue to fight the 'billion-dollar Goliath,' which some have called an apt term for the Church of Scientology.
It is alleged that the religious group is constantly working to hide the truth about Scientologist Masterson's transgressions. In her Instagram post on Wednesday, Nov. 30, she wrote, "While this is not the outcome I wanted for the survivors of Danny Masterson's predation, I'm am glad a retrial has already been rescheduled. My heart breaks for the women who have courageously and tirelessly for justice for over five years." Her statement continued, "For years they have been targeted and harassed by Scientology and its agents. They have also been targeted and harassed by their family members and friends who have remained in Scientology."
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The 46-year-old is on trial for allegedly raping his girlfriend in November 2001, a friend of his assistant’s in April 2003, and a co-actor in 2003. Another woman testified against Masterson, of raping her on two occasions in 1996 to bolster the other three accusations, according to Variety. Judge Charlaine Olmedo was given a note from jurors, where they said, “We are not even close to coming to a unanimous decision on any count, and are convinced this will not change.”
“I want to remind everyone that when you’re a Scientologist, you are strictly forbidden from reporting crimes to civil authorities that other Scientologists commit against you,” Remini wrote. “You are ordered only to report things to internal Scientology authorities… These women did what they were told to do. They reported their rapes to internal Scientology authorities. And after they did that, they were not only blamed and abused; they were told that they weren’t raped and ordered never to use the word ‘rape’ again.”
The actress went on, “Scientology was responsible for reporting these crimes to civil authorities but did no such thing. Instead, it covered them up…Scientology and its evil leader David Miscavige obstructed justice and participated in a conspiracy to cover up these crimes. They have done this many other times in cases of rape and other sexual misconduct.” The church of Scientology has strongly denied such accusations, while Masterson did not testify during the month-long trial.