SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Tim Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad, says a conspiracy involving members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints led to his excommunication from the faith.

On Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, Tim and Katherine Ballard issued a press release surrounding what they call "the Deep Church." The release included claims ranging from the origins of a defamation campaign against the couple to ISIS obstructing the former CEO's work.

Defamation claims

"Representatives of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... commenced a massive defamation campaign against Ballard," the release reads. According to Ballard, the said campaign was instrumental in knocking him out of a 2024 Senate race.

Ballard went public with the claims on a video posted

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