Tim Ballard, a former Homeland Security agent turned anti-sex-trafficking activist whose story served as the basis for the summer blockbuster Sound of Freedom, is criticizing a recent Vice exposé that claims he had sex with seven women while working for his organization Operation Underground Railroad.
In a statement made through the SPEAR Fund on September 19, 2023, Tim Ballard disputed the sexual misconduct charges, calling them “baseless.” The following is his full statement:
“As with all of the assaults on my character and integrity over many years, the latest tabloid-driven sexual allegations are false, They are baseless inventions designed to destroy me and the movement we have built to end the trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable children.”
“During my time at O.U.R., I designed strict guidelines for myself and our operators in the field. Sexual contact was prohibited, and I led by example,” added Ballard, “Given our meticulous attention to this issue, any suggestion of inappropriate sexual contact is categorically false.”
According to the Vice article, Ballard asked women to pose as his wife while he was rescuing sex trafficking victims on covert missions abroad. Among other allegations in the study, Ballard allegedly forced these women to share a bed or a shower, stating that such measures were required to deceive traffickers.
Jim Caviezel plays Ballard in the $210 million-plus worldwide-grossing film Sound of Freedom, which was a huge smash in red states and the heartland this past summer. The Vice report came out as Ballard was planning to compete for Utah’s open U.S. Senate seat in 2024 against Mitt Romney.
Ballard established Operation Underground Railroad in 2013 with the goal of eradicating child sex trafficking. According to Vice, Ballard left O.U.R. earlier this year as a result of an inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment against the anti-sex-trafficking crusader. Ballard is another supporter of President Donald Trump; he previously served in the former’s government in an official capacity on a public-private anti-trafficking commission.
O.U.R. reportedly stated in a statement to Vice that Ballard left the organization on June 22, 2023 and that “he has permanently separated from O.U.R.”
In a statement to Vice, O.U.R. reportedly confirmed that Ballard resigned from the org on June 22, 2023 and that “he has permanently separated from O.U.R.”
Further, said the statement, “O.U.R. is dedicated to combatting sexual abuse, and does not tolerate sexual harassment or discrimination by anyone in its organization.”
The group stated it “retained an independent law firm to conduct a comprehensive investigation of all relevant allegations,” but would make no further comment “to preserve the integrity of its investigation and to protect the privacy of all persons involved.”
Ballard recently spoke out via The Spear Fund, where he serves as senior advisor. According to their website, The Spear Fund supports and works in conjunction with a coalition of professionals, groups, and concerned individuals from all around the world to put an end to human trafficking.
The Spear Fund strongly advises journalists to view this most recent episode of the prestigious Marisol Nichols Podcast, which provides detailed context around the method of conducting child rescue operations:
