Anti-Trafficking Hero and 'Sound of Freedom' Inspiration Tim Ballard Is a Bad, Bad Man

Tim Ballard, founder of Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), which inspired the box-office smash film Sound of Freedom, has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women who worked with him. OUR, which was raising nearly $50 million a year in donations by 2020, gained significant prominence despite concerns from anti-trafficking experts about its tactics and effectiveness.

Ballard is essentially accused of using his position to manipulate and sexually exploit women who trusted him and his methods because of his reputation as an anti-trafficking hero. He had close ties to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which later denounced his “morally unacceptable” activities.

To wit: Ballard frequently employed a “couple’s ruse,” in which he told women that in order to apprehend sex traffickers, they would have to pose as a couple. Ballard used this ruse as an excuse to engage in various forms of sexual activity, both in public and in private, where he insisted that people could be watching and that they had to make it believable. It sounds like something out of a bad movie. Unfortunately, the judgment of these women was so clouded by Ballard’s reputation and his mission that they sometimes believed it was necessary, and Ballard insisted that his methods remain private for the good of the mission.

Ballard behaved as though harassing and engaging sexually with women was necessary in the effort to save children. Take, for instance, the account of Celeste Borys, who also alleged that Ballard brought sex workers into the operation and had sex with them, as well.

Ms. Borys said Mr. Ballard not only placed her in inappropriate situations with sex workers but himself engaged in unwelcome sexual acts with her on at least two dozen occasions, sometimes when they were alone and not conducting any operation. On one such occasion, she said, Mr. Ballard, warning that traffickers might be watching through a hotel window, pushed her onto the bed and, despite her objections, penetrated her until she was able to use enough strength to push him away …

When she objected to his actions, she said, he began screaming and cursing.

“He goes, ‘This is what I get for saving effing kids? You’re criticizing me on how I effing save kids?’” Ms. Borys said. She said she began wishing that she could take back her remarks, wondering why she had questioned his methods.

The NYTimes reporting includes the accounts of 10 women, each of whom had similar experiences with Ballard, who did resign from Operation Underground Railroad in June 2023 amid internal concerns over his methods. However, he is still celebrated by many on the right — earlier this year, he was awarded the “Heroic Patriot” award at a Catholic Prayer for Trump event at Mar-a-Lago.

Six women currently have lawsuits being actively litigated against Ballard, who denies some allegations while insisting that some of his behavior was, again, necessary for the mission. Additionally, there are pending criminal investigations into Ballard. Despite these controversies, Sound of Freedom grossed $250 million, making it the 10th biggest box-office hit in America last year.

Source: NYTimes