McCabe letter to Miscavige

Finally, your letter suggests, as your attorneys have threatened in previous correspondence, that you intend to assert what you believe to be the City of Clearwater’s history of abusive actions against the Church as a defense to the criminal charges. This seems totally at odds with your repeated statements to us that pursuing the charges against the corporation will undo the good will currently existing between the Church and the City and that you were confident that City officials would welcome the resolution you propose. You also acknowledge “past mistakes” on the part of the “Church”, an admission which at least suggests that the “attitudes” in question may have been partially engendered by the “Church’s” own past errors or misconduct.

As my assistants informed your lawyers before the filing of charges, we remain willing to review any written submission and documents you care to make concerning the alleged animosity between the “Church” and Clearwater. At this time, we do not believe that such assertions are relevant to a prosecution based primarily on forensic evidence and the sworn testimony of corporation employees and “Church” members. I resent and reject the suggestion implicit in your letter and the letter from Williams & Connelly that this office is pursuing the instant charges for improper or illegal motives.

Once Judge Schaeffer has completed the Lyons trial, we will attempt to set the corporation’s pending Motion for Statement of Particulars for hearing. In the interim, if you feel after receiving this response that there is sufficient common ground for plea discussions, then either I or my senior staff will be accessible to, you.