Tim Ballard, the founder of the anti-child-trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad, recently found himself at the center of serious allegations. In early October 2023, five residents of Salt Lake City, Utah—where Reyes, until recently, served as mayor—filed a lawsuit against Reyes alleging sexual assault and emotional abuse. The lawsuit alleges that Ballard exploited his position as the head of Operation Underground Railroad to manipulate and abuse women who sought to combat child trafficking.
Ballard received national attention for his anti-trafficking efforts. In the film, he’s portrayed by actor Jim Caviezel, but he resigned from his organization during the height of #MeToo allegations against him. Reed has a deep well of experience as a former Department of Homeland Security special agent. There, he directed the department’s efforts to investigate child sexual trafficking.
Reviled over the arrest, Sim Gill, the district attorney, declared that his office would not pursue charges against Ballard, noting “insufficient admissible evidence.” Yet in making this decision, he made clear that it does not discredit the accounts of survivors.
“It does not mean that we disbelieve or diminish a survivor’s account, but rather that the law requires evidence strong enough to remove every reasonable doubt for a jury,” – Sim Gill
The suit against Ballard alleges that he sent sexually explicit photographs to one of the plaintiffs. The women involved claim that Ballard took advantage of their dedication to fighting child trafficking to perpetrate his alleged abuses.
After the lawsuit was filed, one of the above cases against Ballard was dismissed. One successful appeal is still underway, but another case is still alive. His attorney, Mark Eisenhut, strongly denied Ballard’s guilt, saying it makes sense no charges could ever be filed.
Critics have called the film “Sound of Freedom” QAnon adjacent and Maga-friendly. The film brings attention to Ballard’s mission to save children from sex trafficking. Jim Caviezel’s portrayal of Ballard has drawn scrutiny as he faces backlash for endorsing various QAnon theories.
The emerging legal situation around Tim Ballard is a complex and charged overlap of advocacy and controversy. Soon after, more allegations emerged, resulting in further lawsuits and litigation. These recent developments have serious implications for both Ballard and Operation Underground Railroad.