[ APPLAUSE ] >>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY. SO, MICHELLE LeCLAIR SAYS THAT SHE JOINED THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY AS A TEENAGER. SHE BECAME A DEDICATED MEMBER OVER THE YEARS DONATING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE ORGANIZATION. BUT IN HER BOOK, "PERFECTLY CLEAR," SHE SAYS THE CHURCH TRIED TO DESTROY HER WHEN SHE LEFT AFTER 21 YEARS. WATCH THIS. >> I WAS 18, I GOT INTO A REALLY BAD CAR ACCIDENT. I WENT UNDERNEATH TWO SEMI TRUCKS AND A THIRD ONE ROLLED OVER THE TOP OF MY CAR. AT THAT MOMENT, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME OVER ME. IT WAS PROBABLY THE FIRST MOMENT THAT I WANTED TO LOOK INTO SOMETHING SPIRITUALLY. >> Reporter: IN 1989, MICHELLE LeCLAIR JOINED HER MOTHER IN THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY. >> RIGHT AFTER MY ACCIDENT, THE MINISTER THAT CAME TO THE HOSPITAL SAID TO ME, YOU KNOW, IN SCIENTOLOGY WE BELIEVE THAT ALL ACCIDENTS AND ILLNESSES STEM FROM SUPPRESSION IN YOUR LIFE. >> Reporter: LeCLAIR SAID SHE STARTED SESSIONS, A TYPE OF COUNSELING WITH MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION. >> WHEN I DID THE SECURITY CHECK, I THINK THE FIRST THING I WENT OVER WAS MY OWN SEXUALITY. BUT I WOULD PUSH THOSE THOUGHTS DOWN AND I WOULD BE A GOOD SCIENTOLOGIST. I WANTED TO BE ACCEPTED. >> Reporter: AT 21, LeCLAIR MARRIED AND HAD HER HUSBAND JOIN THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY. THEY HAD FOUR CHILDREN. BUT SHE SAYS HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER HUSBAND WAS ROCKY AND SAYS SHE TURNED TO SCIENTOLOGY FOR HELP. >> EVERY TIME I TRY TO REACH OUT TO THE CHURCH, MY THOUGHTS OF WOMEN AND MY CONFESSION OF HOH HOMOSEXUALITY WAS USED AGAINST ME. >> Reporter: SHE SAID THE CHURCH ADVISED HER TO TAKE EXPENSIVE MARRIAGE COURSES FROM THEM. SHE DID. BUT AFTER 14 YEARS, SHE HAD HAD ENOUGH. SHE DEMANDED A DIVORCE, DESPITE THE CHURCH'S LACK OF SUPPORT. >> I SAID, IF YOU DO NOT GET ME OUT OF SESSION AND START THIS DIVORCE IMMEDIATELY, YOU WILL NOT GET ANOTHER DIME FROM ME. AND THE NEXT DAY, I WAS IN THE CHAPLAIN'S OFFICE, WITH A LAWYER ON THE PHONE WRITING UP OUR DIVORCE AGREEMENT. >> Reporter: BY THIS TIME, LeCLAIR HAD BUILT UP AN INSURANCE BUSINESS AND GAVE A LOT OF HER MONEY TO THE CHURCH. >> I SPENT BETWEEN DONATIONS AND SERVICES, $5 MILLION TO THE CHURCH. >> Reporter: FOLLOWING HER DIVORCE, SHE SAYS SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH A FEMALE FRIEND. >> SHE WAS THE KINDEST, SWEETEST, MOST HONEST PERSON I HAD MET AT THAT TIME. I HAD COME IN FROM A TRIP WITH HER. AND MY PHONE RINGS AND IT'S MY MENTOR IN THE CHURCH. AND SHE SAYS, ARE YOU HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH A WOMAN? AND EVERYTHING IN ME WANTED TO SCREAM FROM THE TOP OF MY LUNGS, I AM IN LOVE WITH A WOMAN. BUT I COULDN'T GET THE WORDS OUT BECAUSE I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. >> Reporter: IN 2010, AFTER 21 YEARS IN THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY, LeCLAIR SAYS SHE STOPPED COMMUNICATING WITH THE CHURCH ALTOGETHER. IN 2011, LeCLAIR AND HER BUSINESS PARTNER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THEY WERE UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR SECURITIES FRAUD. AND IN 2012, THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS FILED A CIVIL LAWSUIT AGAINST THEM. ACCUSING THEM OF OPERATING A $21 MILLION PONZI SCHEME, RIPPING OFF INVESTORS, MOST OF WOMAN WERE SENIORS, FOR MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. LeCLAIR AND HER BUSINESS PARTNER HAD BEEN RAISING MONEY FOR FILM PROJECTS OVER THE YEARS BUT REASON INTO FINANCIAL ISSUES, THE EXTENT OF WHICH, SHE CLAIMS SHE WAS UNAWARE OF. THEY REACHED A SETTLEMENT WITH THE STATE AND SHE SURRENDERED HER INSURANCE LICENSE. BUT IN 2015, THE L.A. COUNTY D.A.'S OFFICE, CHARGED LeCLAIR AND HER BUSINESS PARTNER IN A 72-COUNT COMPLAINT, FOR THE SAME CRIME. SHE STRUCK A DEAL WITH THE D.A. AND SHE AGREED TO REPAY INVESTORS AN ADDITIONAL $1.2 MILLION AND TO TESTIFY AT TRIAL AGAINST HER CO-DEFENDANT. THE CASE AGAINST HIM WAS DROPPED FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE. AND THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAD RUN OUT. IN HER BOOK, SHE SAYS THE INVESTIGATIONS WERE INSTIGATED BY THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY. >> I THINK THEY WERE TRYING TO SEE WHAT THEY COULD FIND ON ME TO BLACKMAIL ME. I HAVE A COPY OF A LETTER FOR THAT INVESTIGATION. >> Reporter: ITS INVESTIGATION STARTED WITH A CIVILIAN COMPLAINT, ADDING IN A STATEMENT, THE NOTION THIS CASE HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH SCIENTOLOGY IS PATENTLY FALSE, LIKE THE CLAIMS MADE TO INVESTORS IN LeCLAIR'S PONZI SCHEME. LeCLAIR CONNED CALIFORNIANS OUT OF THEIR LIFE SAVINGS AND SHE GOT CAUGHT. AND THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY HAVE DISPUTED HER CLAIM. SAYING CIVIL CHARGES AGAINST MS. LeCLAIR WERE INITIATED BY HER VICTIMS. MS. LeCLAIR IS PEDDLING FICTION. IT ISF THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY. BUT THAT ALL CHANGED WHEN THEY FOUND OUT, SHE SAYS, SHE WAS IN LOVE WITH A WOMAN. PLEASE WELCOME MICHELLE. MICHELLE LeCLAIR. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. YOUR MOM WAS IN THE CHURCH. AND THAT WAS HOW YOU GOT INTRODUCED TO IT. AT WHAT AGE? >> AT 18. >> AT 18. YOU WRITE IN YOUR BOOK ABOUT " -- "PERFECTLY CLEAR." >> IT'S A PUN ON CLEAR AND LOVE MADE THINGS PERFECTLY CLEAR FOR ME. >> YOU WRITE ABOUT THE AUDITING SESSIONS YOU DID. THIS IS A PART OF SCIENTOLOGY, SAYS EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN A PART OF IT. WHAT IS AN AUDITING SESSION? >> YOU AND I ARE TALKING. BUT THE DIFFERENCE IS AND WHAT MAKES IT SO STRANGE IS THERE'S AN E-METER. IT'S A ROUND DIVORCE WITH AN ELECTRODE AND I WOULD BE HOLDING CANS. >> LIKE SOUP CANS? >> YEAH. THEY KIND OF LOOK LIKE THAT. THEY HAVE DIFFERENT SIZES TO FIT DIFFERENT HAND SIZES. AND YOU WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE E-METER AND YOU WOULD ASK ME A QUESTION. IF IT REACTED ON THE METER, YOU WOULD ASK ME MORE ABOUT THAT QUESTION. IT'S KIND OF LIKE A LIE DETECTOR IS THE BEST WAY. CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY BELIEVES THAT YOU HAVE SUBCONSCIOUS THOUGHTS THAT MAYBE YOU'RE NOT AWARE OF. THIS METER IS TO HELP DETECT THOSE SUBCONSCIOUS THOUGHTS. >> AND THE SOUP CANS HAVE THE ANSWER. >> IT'S A LITTLE EMBARRASSING RIGHT NOW. >> A LOT OF RELIGIONS HAVE WEIRD BELIEFS. THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES. THERE'S A DEBATE WHETHER SCIENTOLOGY IS A RELIGION AT ALL. THE IRS IS SAYING THEY QUALIFY. YOU LIKED THE E-METER, RIGHT? YOU TALKED ABOUT FEELING EUP EUPHORIC. >> I LIKED THE SESSION. WHEN YOU'RE 18 YEARS OLD AND TRYING TO FIG YOURSELF OUT, ANYONE YOU TALK TO, IT FEELS GOOD TO TALK ABOUT YOURSELF OR YOUR CONCERNS. YOU FORGET THAT THE E-METER IS THERE. >> AND TO BE ACCEPTED, RIGHT? THESE ARE NOT JUDGMENTAL SESSIONS. >> RIGHT. YOU DON'T GET ANY OPINION IN THE SESSION. THEY ASK YOU A QUESTION. YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION. AND THEN, THEY ASK YOU AN EARLIER TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED TO YOU. AND THEN, AN EARLIER TIME IT HAPPENED. >> THEY GIVE YOU USEFUL LIFE TOOLS. I HEARD THIS FROM A LOT OF EX-SCIENTOLOGISTS. THE REASON THAT PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO SCIENTOLOGY, IS NOT ALL ODD STUFF. THE ADVICE IS PRACTICAL AND THEY HELP WITH YOUR LIVES. THIS IS PRACTICAL IF YOU'RE 18 AND 19 YEARS OLD. AND THEY REQUIRE YOU TO WORK. MOST RELIGIONS DON'T REQUIRE YOU TO WORK FOR THEM. TALK ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF WORK AND WHAT YOU WERE DOING. >> IT DEPENDS. IF YOU'RE IN THE C-WARD, YOU WORK ALL THE TIME. YOU'RE CLEANING ROOMS AND YOU'RE WORKING 16 HOURS A DAY. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HOW MUCH MONEY ARE YOU DONATING? YOU HAVE BUSINESS CONSULTANTS HELPING YOU EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS. >> YOU STARTED AN INSURANCE BUSINESS. THEY SUPPORTED YOU IN THOSE EFFORTS. >> THEY DID. I MEAN, THEY HAD MANAGEMENT CONSULTING. L. RON HUBBARD WROTE SOMETHING ABOUT EVERYTHING. THAT'S WHY IT'S ALL-CONSUMING. HOW TO RAISE A FAMILY. HOW TO HAVE A MARRIAGE. HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS. WHAT HAPPENS IS, YOUR ENTIRE LIFE IS, CAPPSLATED. >> YOU CAN WORK OUTSIDE SCIENTOLOGY OR WORK INSIDE SCIENTOLOGY. IF YOU WORK OUTSIDE SCIENTOLOGY, THEY MAY SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS, LIKE THEY DID WITH YOU. >> RIGHT. >> YOU WRITE IN THE BOOK OF A PRESSURE TO ASSOCIATE ONLY WITH SCIENTOLOGISTS OR MOSTLY SCIENTOLOGISTS. THEY WOULD ASK YOU ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE. IS THIS PERSON OPEN TO BETTERING THEMSELVES WITH SCIENTOLOGY. IF THE ANSWER WAS NO, WHAT WOULD THEY SAY? >> YOU HAVE TO LOOK AROUND. WERE YOU BETTERING YOURSELF EVERY DAY, IF YOU WERE, IF I WANTED TO BE FRIENDS WITH YOU AND YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BETTER YOURSELF WITH SCIENTOLOGY, I DIDN'T NEED TO BE FRIENDS WITH YOU. IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT INTRODUCING SOMEBODY TO SCIENTOLOGY. LEAH REMINI EXPLAINS IT WELL. SHE TALKED ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE SHE HAD TO RECRUIT. EVERYBODY IN MY COMPANY WAS DOING SCIENTOLOGY COURSES BECAUSE I WAS ASKING THEM TO DO THEM. >> IF YOU'RE NOT IN THE CHURCH, THEY LABEL YOU A SUPPRESSIVE PERSON. >> IF YOU SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE CHURCH OF SIGN CIENTOLOGY, YOU' LABELED A SUPPRESSIVE PERSON. I HAVE A FEELING I AM. >> WE'RE GOING TO BE BACK [ APPLAUSE ] >>> SO, WE'VE BEEN SPEAKING THIS MORNING WITH MICHELLE LeCLAIR, A FORMER SCIENTOLOGIST, WHO CLAIMS THE CHURCH CAME AFTER HER IN WAYS THAT SHE NEVER COULD IMAGINE WHEN SHE CONFESSED SHE WAS GAY. THE CHURCH DENIES ALL OF THIS. YOU WERE MARRIED TO A MAN. IT WAS A ROCKY RELATIONSHIP. AND YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED A DIVORCE. >> YES. >> YOU SAY YOU GOT CONSIDERABLE PUSHBACK FROM THE CHURCH ON THAT REQUEST. I MEAN, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO -- LISTEN. I'M CATHOLIC, THEY'RE NOT IN FAVOR OF DIVORCE, EITHER. >> RIGHT. >> WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT SCIENTOLOGY? >> I TRIED TO DIVORCE FIVE TIMES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE MARRIAGE. EVERY TIME YOU GO IN, YOU'RE REQUIRED TO DO A MARRIAGE COURSE, WHICH IS MORE AUDITING, WITH YOUR PARTNER. AND THEN, AFTER THAT, YOU GO THROUGH COUNSELING WITH THE CHAPLAIN. IT ALWAYS COMES BACK TO, IF YOU MADE A COMMITMENT TO SOMEONE, WO WHAT ARE YOU DOING AGAINST THAT PERSON THAT YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO LEAVE THEM? AND SO, WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT COMMUNICATION? IT NEVER, FOR ME, WAS ABOUT WHAT WAS HE DOING TO ME. IT WAS, WHAT WAS I DOING OR WITHHOLDING FROM HIM THAT I WANTED TO LEAVE. >> YOU CAN MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT'S ABOUT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. ALWAYS LOOK AT YOURSELF. WHAT CAN I DO TO CHANGE MY CIRCUMSTANCE. HOW ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN YOUR MARRIAGE DID THEY GET? >> EVERY DETAIL. YOU CAN SAY THAT, AND THAT'S FINE IN A NORMAL MARRIAGE. NOT WHEN YOU'RE BEING ABUSED. AND SO, WHEN YOU GO TO THE CHURCH AND ASK FOR HELP, AND THEY TELL YOU THAT YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR WIFELY DUTIES ENOUGH, AND SEND YOU BACK HOME TO HAVE A CHILD, THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A PROBLEM. >> WIFELY DUTIES MEANING SEX? >> YES. >> THEY WOULD GET THAT INVOLVED. >> YES. EVERY DETAIL. YOU CLAIM YOUR EX-HUSBAND -- HE ABUSED YOU? >> YES. >> WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REACH HIM. YOU DIDN'T REPORT THE ABUSE AT THE TIME TO THE AUTHORITIES. WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO VERIFY THAT. THE CHURCH SAYS THEY HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY ON PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE AND REPORTS SUCH ABUSE WHEN REQUIRED BY LAW. THEY'RE NOT BUYING THEY WERE EVER INFORMED OF ANY ABUSE IN YOUR MARRIAGE. >> I'M NOT REALLY AWARE OF ANYTHING THAT THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR. THEY'RE BUILT ON LIES. I DON'T EXPECT THEM TO SAY ANYTHING ELSE. YOU KNOW, I HAVE WITNESSES. MY SISTER WITNESSED MANY THINGS. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT WORKED FOR ME WITNESSED THINGS. AND IT WAS NOT A GOOD LIFE TO LIVE. >> YOU -- AS WE DOCUMENT THE PIECE, THE LIGHTBULB MOMENT HAPPENS FOR YOU. AND YOU REALIZE, I'M ATTRACTED TO ANOTHER WOMAN. AND I MIGHT BE A LESBIAN. >> RIGHT. >> THIS, TOO, DID NOT GO OVER WELL IN THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY, AS YOU SAY IN THE BOOK, THAT L. RON HUBBARD WAS AGAINST HOMOSEXUALITY. HE THOUGHT THAT HOMOSEXUALS WERE CRIMINALS. >> YES. >> THE CHURCH DENIES THAT, TOO. THEY SAY CONTRARY TO THEIR CLAIMS, YOUR HOMOSEXUALITY WAS NEVER AN ISSUE WITH THE CHURCH. BUT MICHELLE WAS INVOLVED IN INFIDELITY. WHAT DO YOU SAY WAS THE PUSHBACK ON YOU BEING GAY? >> I'M HOLDING BACK NOT REALLY LAUGHING AT THAT STATEMENT. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT WHAT L. RON HUBBARD SAYS ABOUT GAY PEOPLE. IT'S SIMPLE. HE CONSIDERS THEM THE LOWEST OF THE LOW. HE FEELS THEY SHOULD BE TAKEN OUT OF SOCIETY. HE STATES IT IN "DIANETICS." HE STATES IT IN THE CHART OF HUMAN EVALUATION. I TRIED TO COME OUT AT 19. I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE RELATIONS WITH WOMEN. AFTER I WAS DIVORCED, LEFT MY EX, I FELL IN LOVE WITH A WOMAN. AND I KNEW THAT THAT WAS RIGHT FOR ME. IT WAS THE GREATEST THING I'D EVER KNOWN. >> MICHELLE TALKS ABOUT HOW THE CHURCH ALLEGEDLY FORCED HER TO GO AROUND TO PEOPLE WHO WERE STRANGERS TO HER WITHIN THE CHURCH, TO OFFER HER ATONEMENT [ APPLAUSE ] >>> WE'RE BACK, NOW, WITH MICHELLE LeCLAIR, WHO WAS A SCIENTOLOGIST FOR DECADES UNTIL SHE FINALLY LEFT THE CHURCH AND SAYS TROUBLE BEGAN FOR HER, AND HOW. BEFORE WE GET TO THE TROUBLE, WHEN THEY LEARNED THAT YOU WERE HAVING LESBIAN THOUGHTS, YOU SAY YOU HAD TO GO THROUGH A MULTISTEP PROCESS TO ATONE FOR THOSE THOUGHTS, INCLUDING GOING AROUND TO PEOPLE WITHIN THE CHURCH AND APOLOGIZING? >> RIGHT. SO, THEY BELIEVED THAT I CHOSE THE WRONG GROUP. IF I WAS GOING TO TEND TO BE PART OF A GROUP THAT WAS SO LOW, I HAD TO CHOOSE TO BE PART OF MY SCIENTOLOGY GROUP AGAIN AND I HAD TO ASK TO BE ACCEPTED. I TOOK A LIABILITY FORMULA AROUND WITH ALL OF THE DETAILS OF MY THOUGHTS AND I HAD TO WALK UP TO YOU AND SAY, I AM IN LIABILITY, WILL YOU ACCEPT ME BACK INTO THE GROUP? MOST SCIENTOLOGISTS ARE USED TO THIS, THEY WOULD GRAB IT AND SIGN IT. AND THERE WERE THE ONES THAT MADE YOU FEEL HORRIBLE. >> THEY WOULD ASK WHAT DID YOU DO? SOME OF THEM WOULD LOOK AT IT AND SAY, YOU'RE DISGUSTING AND REFUSE TO SIGN IT. >> NOTWITHSTANDING ALL OF THAT. THE HEART WANTS WHAT IT WANTS. YOU ALIGNED WITH THAT. YOU DECIDED TO LEAVE THE CHURCH. YOU FOUND LOVE WITH ANOTHER WOMAN. AND YOU SAY, THAT'S WHEN THE TROUBLE STARTS. YOU CONFESSED, THEY HELPED YOU WITH YOUR INSURANCE BUSINESS. YOU GAVE THEM, YOU SAY, OVER $5 MILLION, TO THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY. YOU HAVE TO DO THE SPECIAL AUDITING. THAT'S $40,000. AND THE SPECIAL INTENSIVE COURSE. THAT'S $50,000. YOU HAVE TO TELL OTHER PEOPLE TO DO THAT. YOU'RE $5 MILLION IN. YOU'VE BECOME A RICH WOMAN, IN PART BECAUSE OF THEIR HELP? >> NO. THE MAJORITY OF MY CLIENTS WERE OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY. I HAD ONE OR TWO THAT WERE INSIDE THE CHURCH. WHEN I SAY HELP, IT'S CONSULTING, HOW TO BUILD A BUSINESS, HOW TO BE BETTER AT SALES. >> YOU WERE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO INVEST IN THIS MOVIE. YOU'RE THE CEO OF THIS ORGANIZATION THAT WAS BACK FUNDING FOR THIS MOVIE. YOU HAVE A PARTNER THAT WAS DIRECTOR OF THE MOVIE. AND WHAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAYS, THAT WAS A FRAUD. THAT YOU BUILT THESE SENIOR CITIZEN CITIZENS OUT OF THEIR LIFE SAVINGS. THEY NEVER GOT RETURN ON THEIR INVESTMENT. AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WOUND UP CHARGING YOU CRIMINALLY ON IT AND OFFERED YOU IMMUNITY TO TESTIFY AGAINST YOUR PARTNER, RIGHT? >> THE BEGINNING PART IS NOT CORRECT. I WAS NOT CEO OF THE COMPANY. MY COMPANY WAS MAKING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON ITS OWN IN INSURANCE. I HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THESE CLIENTS WERE CLIENTS OF MINE FOR 20 YEARS. THE MAN THAT OWNED THE COMPANY, WAS MY FRIEND, AND I WAS GODMOTHER TO HIS DAUGHTER. HE WAS THE OWNER. I INTRODUCED SOME OF MY CLIENTS. BUT I PUT MY OWN MONEY IN. MY FATHER. MANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS. IT'S PROBABLY MY GREATEST REGRET. IT WILL BE MY GREATEST REGRET. >> THE CHURCH SAYS TO US, YOU CAN'T BELIEVE A WORD THAT MICHELLE SAYS. SHE'S BEEN CHARGED WITH FELONIES. HAS BEEN A FRAUDSTER. WAS CHARGED CIVILLY AND HAD TO AGREE TO PAY BACK $17 MILLION OF THE $21 MILLION OWED. DO THEY HAVE A POINT? >> I THINK WHAT'S SO HARD IS THAT, NUMBER ONE, ANYTHING THE CHURCH SAYS, I COULD CARE LESS ABOUT. I MADE A MISTAKE TRUSTING SOMEBODY. AND THE MOMENT THAT I KNEW HE WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG, THE MOMENT HE LEFT FOR EUROPE AND CAME BACK AND SAID, THE COMPANY WAS BANKRUPT, I DIDN'T GO TO ANYBODY TO PROTECT MYSELF. I SET UP A TRUST FOR MY CLIENTS. I PUT MONEY INTO A SEPARATE ENTITY. EVERY ASSET THAT I OWNED. AND I GAVE IT TO MY CLIENTS. I'LL WORK FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE TAKEN CARE OF. I LOST MORE MONEY THAN ANYBODY. I DIDN'T NEED THAT. >> WHAT ABOUT THE PROCEEDS OF THE BOOK? >> PROCEEDS OF THE BOOK GO TO THE TRUST. >> THEY DO? >> YEAH. [ APPLAUSE ] >> THE FILMMAKER WITH WHOM MICHELLE CONNECTED RESPONDED TO THE ALLEGATIONS, AS WELL. HE SAID, THROUGH HIS SPOKESPERSON, WAS ABSOLVED OF ALL OF THE CRIMINAL CHARGES BECAUSE OF LACK OF TRUTH. MRS. SEWARD'S ATTEMPTS TO PIN THEM TO MR. SOREF ARE SELF-SERVING AND ENTIRELY IMPLAUSIBLE. YOU BELIEVE THAT THE CHURCH SICKED SOME PEOPLE ON YOU, WHETHER THEY DID OR THEY DIDN'T, AND THEY DENY DOING SO. THE STATE IS SAYING THEY FOUND CRIMINAL WRONGDOING. SO, IT'S -- HOWEVER IT GOT STARTED, THE STATE SAYS, WHEN THEY LOOKED INTO IT, THEY FOUND IT. YOU'RE ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS NOW. >> YES. I NEVER COMMITTED A CRIME. I GAVE THEM ALL OF THE PAPERWORK TO SHOW WHERE -- IT'S SIMPLE. IT'S A MONEY TRAIL, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, I GAVE THEM THE PAPERWORK. I WENT THROUGH FINANCIAL AUDITS. AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL CHARGES WERE DISMISSED AGAINST ME. I FOUGHT FOR MY LIFE FOR THREE YEARS TO PROVE MY INNOCENCE AND I DID. >> THE STATE DID SAY YOU CONNED CALIFORNIANS, MOST OF WHOM WERE SENIORS AND THAT YOU GOT CAUGHT. GOOD FOR YOU FOR GIVING THE PROCEEDS OF THE BOOK TO THE PEOPLE WHO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAYS YOU HURT. >> ONE EXTRA POINT, THOUGH, IS THE MAJORITY OF THE CLIENTS SUPPORTED ME. THERE WERE 140 PEOPLE AFFECTED. THEY CAME AND WORE BUTTONS AND SAT IN THE COURTROOM, SAYING THEY SUPPORTED ME.
