Bob Minton was a retired investment banker who became a prominent critic of the Church of Scientology in the 1990s. He spent millions of dollars to support lawsuits and campaigns against the controversial organization, but later switched sides and testified for the church in a shocking turn of events. He died of a heart ailment in Ireland in 2010 at the age of 63.
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How Bob Minton Became a Scientology Critic
According to Wikipedia, Minton became interested in Scientology after reading about its attacks on critics and internet free speech. He was concerned about the alleged violations of civil and human rights of Scientology members and former members. He appeared on several news programs and documentaries to discuss his criticism of Scientology and the harassment he faced from the church.
Minton donated over $10 million to various anti-Scientology causes, including about $2 million to the Lisa McPherson wrongful death case. McPherson was a Scientologist who died in 1995 while in the care of church staff in Clearwater, Florida. Minton also offered a reward of $360,000 to anyone who would leave Scientology with enough information to cause the organization to lose its federal tax exemption. He also bought a house for a cat sanctuary for former Scientologists and participated in demonstrations in front of Scientology facilities.
How Scientology Fought Back Against Bob Minton
According to the Tampa Bay Times, the Church of Scientology soon focused on their number one critic and used various methods to subdue him. They sent Scientology staff to keep an eye on him, staged counter-pickets, hired a private investigator to probe his financial dealings, and sued him for libel and harassment. They also accused him of fraud and money laundering in his Nigerian businesses, which Minton denied and successfully sued the church for defamation.
Two former top Scientology leaders, Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder, who defected from the church, revealed that they secretly recorded Minton in two meetings using a briefcase with a hidden camera. They also said that they used a former Nigerian soccer star, John Fashanu, to pressure Minton with false information.
How Bob Minton Switched Sides and Testified for Scientology
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Minton’s efforts unraveled in 2002, when he faced allegations that he lied under oath about the depth of his involvement in the McPherson case. As the lawsuit dragged on in court and the judge pressed for a settlement, Minton said he wanted some peace and decided to cooperate with the church. He testified for the church and against the plaintiff’s attorney, saying that he had influenced the case and tried to extort money from the church. He also recanted some of his previous statements and apologized to the church for his actions.
The church dropped its lawsuits against Minton and the McPherson case was settled out of court in 2004. Minton moved to Ireland with his companion Stacy Brooks, who was also a former Scientology critic and a former Scientologist. He withdrew from the public eye and stopped speaking about Scientology.
How Bob Minton Died of a Heart Ailment in Ireland
According to the Tampa Bay Times, Minton died unexpectedly on January 20, 2010, in Clonbur, Ireland. Mark Bunker, a Scientology critic, said that Brooks told him that Minton was diagnosed with a heart problem the day he died. He was 63 years old.
Minton was remembered by some of his former allies as a courageous and generous man who stood up to Scientology, but also as a complex and conflicted person who made some mistakes and changed his mind. He was also remembered by some of his former enemies as a repentant and forgiven man who realized his errors and made amends with the church. He was buried in Ireland.
