Scientology's Future on the Line in California Election

Leah Remini is urging Los Angeles voters not to back City Council member Mitch O'Farrell, who she accuses of "openly supporting Scientology."

The actress was brought up in the movement (which has been dubbed as cultish by critics), but later left and has branded Scientology "a dangerous, totalitarian cult."

Democrat O'Farrell, who was first elected to the L.A. City Council in 2013, is facing a challenge for his seat on Tuesday from left-winger Hugo Soto-Martínez, who Remini has endorsed.

According to the Scientology Newsroom, the movement's official media arm, O'Farrell took part in a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles in November 2021.

As part of the event, the publication reported he "placed the first gift in the collection box."

O'Farrell gave an address at the event, commenting: "After 20 months of pandemic, now more than ever before we need an infusion of hope and happiness and optimism and love and mutual respect."

Reacting on Twitter Remini said: "What's stunning about the 2021 holiday lighting event is Mitch O'Farrell attended that event over one year after [House Representative] Karen Bass faced a ton of scrutiny for her past attendance at Scientology events. At this point, Mitch is a top enabler of Scientology's criminal behavior."

Remini described Scientology as "a totalitarian cult that destroys people's lives, separates families, bankrupts people, and inflicts horrific psychological devastation on them," and described O'Farrell's attendance at the event "sick and unacceptable for a person holding elective office."

Speaking to Newsweek, Karin Pouw, a spokesperson from the Church of Scientology, said: "Remini is a hatemonger who will say anything for money and media attention. She has repeatedly colluded with others to make false allegations to incite horrific hatred and violence. Her latest statements show how unhinged and desperate she is."

No evidence was provided to support the accusation that Remini is aiming to incite "violence."

O'Farrell has been contacted for comment.

In 2015, Remini published Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology, an account of her time within the movement.

In response, the Church of Scientology accused Remini of being a "bitter ex-Scientologist," and urged her to "move on with her life instead of pathetically exploiting her former religion."

Remini had a successful career as an actress both before and after quitting Scientology, starring in the CBS sitcoms The King of Queens and Kevin Can Wait.

Newsweek has also contacted Remini for additional comment.

At a national level, both the Senate and House of Representatives are in contention on Tuesday, with the Republicans hoping to gain control of both chambers.

According to polling experts FiveThirtyEight, the GOP is strongly favored to take control of the House, and has a 54 percent chance of securing a Senate majority.

Democrat John Fetterman is facing Trump-endorsed Republican Dr. Mehmet Oz in the Pennsylvania Senate battle, which could determine which party ends up controlling the upper chamber. According to betting site Oddschecker 61 percent of bets placed have been on Oz.

On Monday, Georgia Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said the GOP will "impeach" President Joe Biden if they take control of the house, during a Trump rally in Ohio.

She said: "We can impeach [Homeland Security] Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas, we can impeach [U.S. Attorney General] Merrick Garland and we can and we will impeach Joe Biden."

Update 11/9/22, 10:02 AM ET: This story has been updated with a comment from the Church of Scientology.

Correction 11/9/22, 10:07 AM ET: An earlier version of the story had the incorrect name of Leah Remini's CBS show. The correct title is 'Kevin Can Wait.' We regret the error.