We're heading down to the courthouse now to begin talking to folks before the action heats up again.
Yesterday afternoon, Bexar County district judge Martha Tanner said that she'd begin day 2 of the temporary injunction hearing at 9:30 am, CST.
If you're just joining us, the Church of Scientology is suing one of its former high-ranking officials, Debbie Cook, and her husband, Wayne Baumgarten, who live here in San Antonio. Cook was something of a legend inside Scientology, and for many was the "face" of the religion. But her final couple of years, she testified yesterday, featured confinement and degradation on an almost unbelievable scale. She says she gladly signed a draconian non-disclosure agreement and accepted $50,000 in payment simply in order to get away from the church. Then, this past New Year's Eve, she sent out an e-mail to thousands of her fellow church members, complaining in part about how Scientology, under leader David Miscavige, is too focused on "extreme fundraising."
The church sued two weeks ago, saying that by sending out that e-mail, she'd violated her agreement. The church was granted a temporary restraining order which has run out, and is now seeking a temporary injunction that would keep Cook gagged until a trial could be held. Ironically, that resulted, yesterday, in Cook testifying to horrible things she never even brought up in the e-mail. So much for gagging her. Her testimony, under questioning from her attorney Ray Jeffrey, will continue this morning, and we'll be there, giving you live updates...
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