Aid Mark's Legal Defense for Reporting

My name is Mark O'Donnell, and I am an independent reporter from Maryland, USA. For the past 10 years, I have investigated and reported on crimes against children committed within the Jehovah's Witness Community, and the deliberate lack of reporting of most of these crimes to law enforcement.

In 2019, I was interviewed by The Atlantic, who then published the story A Secret Database of Child Abuse . One day later, two Jehovah's Witness elders came to my door for "Judicial" reasons.

Within a few weeks, both my wife and myself were disfellowshipped by the Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Atlantic article was about documents stolen from Kingdom Halls in the US, then sent to me anonymously. Those documents detailed vicious crimes against children that were never reported to the police by JW elders. I knew that I had to do something, and continue reporting.

As a direct result of the tips and leads I receive from confidential informants inside of the Jehovah's Witnesses, I am now being sued by the Witnesses for upwards of 2-3 million dollars. Why? I acted on a tip from an informant in an effort to gather facts that would benefit the public, survivors of abuse, and law enforcement.

For my full public statement and the public response, Click Here

The work I have done as a reporter has always been at my own expense. But now that a multi-billion-dollar Church is suing me, I have been forced to accept help from the large number of people who believe in my work, and who wish to shed light on crimes committed within the Church. I am facing over a hundred thousand dollars in legal fees associated with my defense, and this platform may be able to help raise part of what is needed to survive and to continue reporting.

I am also committed to protecting my sources, including the Elders and insiders who risk everything to keep me informed.

Any funds raised go directly to the high cost of legal defense, and for the high costs of depositions, briefs, and ultimately, a public trial in October.

I want to thank you for the overwhelming support I have received from the public, from survivors, from journalists, and so many others who care about the protection of children, and who believe that churches and other organizations must be transparent as to their actions and policies.