Danny Masterson’s team criticizes investigative work and Scientology – and wants to challenge the verdict again.
Danny Masterson is currently trying to have his conviction overturned. In the application published on Monday, November 17th, the actor’s lawyer states that both the defense at the time and the investigative authorities made serious mistakes. According to the argument, these would have led to an “unfair process”.
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Masterson, now 49, was sentenced in September 2023 to 30 years to life in prison. A jury found it proven that the “The Roaring Seventies” actor had sexually abused two women in the early 2000s. The two women met Danny Masterson through the Church of Scientology. They alleged in court that the church discouraged them from reporting the attacks. However, the church firmly rejected these allegations.
The allegations against the defense at the time
In the current, 183-page motion, Danny Masterson’s new lawyer Eric Multhaup claims that then-defense attorney Phillip Cohen made crucial mistakes. He did not subpoena exonerating witnesses, including friends of the victims, who reported consensual sexual contact. According to him, one of the women even described her contact with Masterson as “the best sex of her life,” according to the wording in the application.
Multhaup also criticizes that Cohen failed to develop an active counter-strategy – for example, to provide evidence that would refute the accusation of drugging the victims. Although the prosecution did not present any forensic evidence of poisoning, the defense remained “passive” on this point.
Influence by Leah Remini?
Another central point of the application concerns the allegedly biased investigative work. Multhaup refers to the role of actress and former Scientologist Leah Remini, who publicly supported the victims and discussed their allegations in a documentary series. According to the application, Remini is said to have informally influenced the investigation. She was brought in as a strategic advisor and expert on Scientology practices – even though the LAPD knew that she was pursuing a personal feud against Danny Masterson and the church.
Accusations against Scientology
An investigation by the Los Angeles Times in 2024 brought further allegations to light. Accordingly, representatives of the church are said to have tried to hinder the investigation against Masterson. These include a break-in at the home of a senior prosecutor and reports of persecution and intimidation of investigators. However, an internal investigation could not confirm these allegations.
But also: Two of Masterson’s former lawyers were sanctioned for illegally disclosing confidential trial documents to the church.