ELKINS Jaffre or WEINTRAUB Reuaen GARTSIDE LLF January 21, 2013 VIA EMAIL Mr. David C. Vigilante Senior Vice President Associate General Counsel Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. One CNN Center Atlanta, GA 30303-2762 -- Re: Church of Scientology Dear Mr. Vigilante: We represent Mr, David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center and the ecclesiastical leader of the Church of Scientology. We understand that CNN plans to broadcast false and defamatory information about Mr. Miscavige accusing him of felony oonduct when there is no evidence whatsoever supporting such allegations: there are no contemporaneous reports, no photographs, no police reports, no medical records -- nothing. In fact, there is proof of one thing -- the people who made such accusations were lying. This was documented by the Church with photographs and video footage proving that what these sources alleged could not possibly be true. I presume you have seen this Church video since it specifically covered the 2010 AC . 360 show which previously aired the false allegations. We further understand that A0360 is planning an interview with Mr. Wright. We write not because of any objection to interviewing a writer about his book, but to warn CNN that the rebroadcast of false and defamatory statements about Mr. Misoavige opens CNN to liability. Similarly, we understand that you plan to broadcast an allegation from Mr. Wright': book of Bill Franks supposedly remembering a conversation more than 30 years old claiming Mr' Miscavige used the incendiary term "faggots" without verifiying the truth of this sensational allegation about a worldwide religious leader. 2049 Cenluvy Park East SW2 2700, Los Angeles, California 90057-3202 Telephone. 310.746.4400 Facsimile 310.746,A4fiS elkinskalt com Mr. David c. Vigilante January 21, 2013 Page 2 Mr. Miscavige never made such a statement. Bill Franks was expelled from the Scientology religion 30 years ago and was involved in litigation with the Church 20 years ago -- he is not a credible source. Mr. Wright made no attempt to fact-check this allegation with Mr. Miscavige,'who would have told him that this was a scurrilous lie from an unreliable source. There is no basis for broadcasting that the leader of a religion engaged in any alleged abuse when the hard evidence clearly shows that no such conduct ever occurred. Experienced federal judges have heard these same allegations" from some of the-same sources who Mr. Wright relied on and found -them not credible. According to recent media, the FBI heard from Wright's sources and concluded the same. The United Kingdom and Canadian publishers of Wright's book have decided - not to publish it. The people making the accusations are not credible and have a motive to lie. They have no financial assets and no reputation to speak of, so they believe they will suffer no consequences by concocting stories about Mr. Miscavige. But, the truth cannot be found in the echo of the same lie repeated multiple times. With more time I could provide you, too, with sworn statements from witnesses who were there when the supposed incidents occurred and they also say these allegations are not true. Under the "extraordinary circumstances here, broadcasting that Mr. Miscavige engaged in abuse is defamatory per 'se and shoddy journalism in the extreme. It makes no difference if CNN alsobroadcasts that the allegations are denied. Merely broadcasting accusations of criminal wrongdoing, where there is no credible evidence to support it and every experienced objective person -- federal judges and now, reportedly and apparently, the FBI -- who has looked at the facts has concluded that no such conduct has occurred is broadcasting with a reckless disregard 'of the truth. Mr. Miscavige. Mr. Miscavige is one of the great individuals of our time. He has been the ecclesiastical leader of the Church of Scientology for over 25 years, a period of unprecedented_growth for the Church. He is a man of impeccable character who has dedicated his life" to his faith and to the service of its parishioners. He has improved, enriched or saved millions of lives. He has done so personally and through the Church's numerous social betterment programs that he initiated or expanded and that are available for Scientologists and non- Scientologists alike. Such programs are available without cost and around the globe, including in some of the most remote regions in Africa and Asia, where governments do not have sufficient resources to help their people. 255204v1 Mr. David C. Vigilante January 21, 2013 Page 3 These programs fight the scourges of our times: illiteracy, drug abuse, crime, immorality, human rights violations and natural disasters. They bring knowledge, hope and aid to people who lack all of those things. He asks for nothing in return. As such, Mr. Miscavige is respected by government officials, other religious leaders and the millions of others who have benefitted. directly or seen their family, students or neighbors benefit. . Wright's Shoddv Journalism. I have had the pleasure of knowing Mr. Miscavige for years and the -honor of representing him during that time. Mr. Miscavige is polite, professional and would never "abuse" anybody. Everyone-who knows Mr. Miscavige will tell you the same thing.(other than the virulent anti- Scientologists, who feel no constraint to tell the truth). Although Wright knew that there were no documents supporting the allegations against Mr. Miscavige, he recklessly published anyway. For example, he Went so far as to state that someone was punished by being "made to run around a pole in the desert for 12 hours a day, until his teeth fell out." Teeth fell out, but there are no medical records? Any objective person would conclude that this story, as the others, was fiction. There are no documents because the events never happened. When the Truth Comes Out. There are Consequences. Where the media has published" fiction masquerading as fact, even though there were warning signs that the story wasnoti true, the truth ultimately came out anyway. Some prominent examples are The New York Times (Jayson Blair); The New Republic (Stephen Glass); The Washington Post (Janet Cooke); CBS (Dan Rather); Penguin imprint Riverhead Books (author of Million Little Pieces" subsequently admitted fabrications in book); Penguin imprint Riverhead Books (author of "Love and Consequences" made false statements in book; book recalled); National Public Radio ("This American Life" retracted "Mr. Daisey and the Apple Factory" story because the facts were dramatized); NBC (President of NBC News resigned over "Dateline show that did not report accurately); and USA Today (resignations of Editor- in-Chief, managing editor of News section and executive editor over reporter's fabrication of stories). The media was left with bruised reputations, retractions, apologies, ruined careers, internal investigations and wasted attorney fees. We hope that you make the right decision in not broadcasting such calumnies. CNN should not join that infamous list. The Real Story. The real story about Mr. Miscavige is touched on at- page two of this letter. At a time when no other leader stepped forward, Mr. Miscavige initiated and expanded programs to help so many people, for so many 255204v1 Mr. David C. Vigilante January 21, 2013 Page 4 years, in so many countries that millions of lives seemingly devastated by illiteracy, drug abuse, human rights violations and natural disasters were transformed for the better. Mr. Miscavige has asked for nothing in return. That is the story about Mr. Miscavige that should be broadcast. He is the leader of a dynamic religion expanding across five oontinents. His duties are herculean and accomplishments monumental. Now CNN is going to besmirch Mr. Miscavige's reputation based on unreliable sources, who have no supporting documents and a motive to lie -- and after being put on written notice that their scurrilous allegations are false and that experienced objective people who have investigated have concluded there was nothing to these allegations. CNN's "reckless disregard" for the truth is palpable. Should you publish false and defamatory assertions about Mr. Miscavige, he will, of course take appropriate action. But, to avoid increasing the book's sales by a lawsuit, he will file any action only after the boolfs initial sale period has expired. Vei truly your EY K. RIFF Elkins Kalt Weintraub Reuben Gartside LLP Copy to: Miguel Marquez Richard Griffiths Richard Davis zsszom