Bob Minton
| Robert Minton | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | October 1946 United States |
| Died | January 20, 2010 (aged 63) Clonbur, Ireland |
| Occupation | retired banker Founder, Lisa McPherson trust |
Robert Schenk Minton (October 1946 – January 20, 2010) was a banker who helped the country of Nigeria manage its debt and a well-known critic of Scientology.
Minton became a critic of Scientology after reading about its attacks on critics and internet free speech. He appeared on several news programs discussing his criticism of Scientology and the harassment from the church. This included a feature appearance on the June 16, 1998 broadcast of the television news program Dateline NBC. Later that year, he appeared in an A&E "Investigative Reports" installment called "Inside Scientology" which aired in December.
Minton spent over $10 million fighting Scientology. He also participated in demonstrations in front of the Boston Headquarters of the Church of Scientology near his Beacon Hill home.
After reports by Scientology alleging fraud in his Nigerian businesses, Minton successfully sued two German Scientology entities and a spokeswoman for a permanent injunction preventing them from repeating the libel. The decision was confirmed on appeal.
Minton founded the Lisa McPherson Trust (LMT) in 1999, which brought a civil suit against the Church of Scientology for the wrongful death of Lisa McPherson and provided legal assistance to former Scientologists who alleged maltreatment or abuse by the Church. The trust operated out of Clearwater, Florida, home to Flag Land Base, Scientology's spiritual headquarters. Frequent confrontations between the LMT and Scientology began not long after the founding of the trust.
Minton changed his testimony in the McPherson case after a Scientology probe onto his financial affairs. Minton was repeatedly ordered to attend depositions and questioned by Scientology lawyers about his alleged financial dealings. In addition, years later former church members detailed how Scientology investigated Minton finding information he was "worried about". Critics of Scientology believe that Minton was blackmailed by the Church of Scientology. On March 16, 2002 Minton called Mike Rinder and on April 6 of that year they met. At that meeting Minton told Rinder that there were lies told in the case and he feared Scientology would uncover those lies in court and he would be sent to jail for perjury.
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