Scientology's Government Infiltration

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Scientology's government infiltration, known as Operation Snow White, was a significant espionage effort by the Church of Scientology against U.S. government agencies in the 1970s. This operation aimed to purge unfavorable records about Scientology and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, from government files. It involved infiltrating over 136 government agencies, including the IRS and the Department of Justice, using covert agents who gained employment within these organizations to access and alter documents[1][2]. The operation led to numerous illegal activities, including burglaries, wiretapping, and theft of documents. The FBI uncovered these activities in 1977, leading to raids on Scientology offices and the conviction of several high-ranking Scientologists, including Mary Sue Hubbard[2][4]. The operation exposed the vulnerabilities in U.S. government security and highlighted the complex interplay between religious freedom and legal accountability[2][3].