Anti-trafficking activist Tim Ballard told a podcast that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints excommunicated him to conceal child sexual abuse within the faith, according to the Salt Lake Tribune. Ballard, who founded Operation Underground Railroad and faces sexual misconduct allegations from multiple women, made the claim without providing evidence for institutional cover-up.

The Church has not publicly commented on Ballard's excommunication or his allegations. Ballard was excommunicated in 2024 amid lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and coercion involving women he recruited for undercover operations.

Ballard's allegations come as he faces civil litigation from former colleagues and as federal investigators have examined his organization's fundraising and operations.