Sun Myung Moon

After decades of militant anti-communism, Moon met Kim Il Sung in North Korea in 1991 and subsequently developed economic projects and initiatives for inter-Korean rapprochement, in striking contrast to his earlier political rhetoric.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

At a ceremony at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Moon and Hak Ja Han received crowns. Moon declared himself the "Saviour", "Messiah", "Returning Lord" and "True Parent". Several lawmakers present subsequently said they had misunderstood or been unaware of the event's exact nature.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Moon founded the Washington Times in 1982 to provide a conservative voice against what he regarded as liberal bias in mainstream media. The Washington Post estimated that approximately 1.7 billion dollars in Church-related subsidies were invested in the newspaper during its first twenty years, despite chronic losses.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Church's recruitment and communal living methods prompted decades of "brainwashing" allegations, family conflicts and interventions by deprogrammers. Several legal proceedings nevertheless showed that adult members stated they remained in the movement voluntarily, while families or deprogrammers sometimes failed to establish detention against their will.

State of the evidence

Documented

A federal jury found Moon guilty of conspiracy and filing three false tax returns for 1973, 1974 and 1975. The case notably concerned more than 1.7 million dollars deposited in accounts in his name and more than 100,000 dollars in undeclared interest. He was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment and a 25,000-dollar fine.

Attribution

Accused

Moon organised and officiated record mass weddings: 2,075 couples at Madison Square Garden and approximately 5,800 couples in Seoul. Many spouses had been personally matched within the movement and some had met only days earlier.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

A House of Representatives subcommittee concluded that the religious, economic and political organisations directed by Moon essentially constituted an international organisation under his substantial control. The report described activities intended to influence US policy, sometimes promote South Korean government interests, and build independent economic and political power.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Fraser Report noted that a company within the Moon organisation was a significant defence contractor in South Korea, manufacturing M-16s and anti-aircraft weapons. It also reported approaches by organisation representatives seeking to expand exports of M-16s made under a co-production agreement.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Sun Myung Moon launched an international campaign urging Americans to "forgive, love and unite" around Richard Nixon during Watergate. He portrayed the presidency as a sacred office and argued that citizens should support Nixon until God removed him.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility