Operation Underground Railroad files counterclaims against Tim Ballard accuser

SALT LAKE CITY — Operation Underground Railroad has filed counterclaims against a woman and her husband who claim the anti-trafficking organization failed to respond to reports of sexual assault alleged against founder and former CEO Tim Ballard.

Celeste Borys, a former employee of Operation Underground Railroad, filed an anonymous lawsuit against Ballard in October, accusing him of grooming and sexual assault she said ultimately led to her separation with her husband. She and her husband spoke publicly last month, along with four other women who have accused Ballard of sexual assault in a separate lawsuit.

In a court filing Monday, Operation Underground Railroad claims that Borys never reported Ballard’s alleged misconduct to the company and that she disputed the claims made by another Ballard accuser — who is identified by the pseudonym “JJ” — while Borys was serving as Ballard’s executive assistant.

After Ballard was placed on administrative leave in April 2023 pending an investigation into misconduct allegations, Operation Underground Railroad claims Borys was interviewed “in a confidential meeting relating to JJ’s allegations of sexual misconduct.”

“During Mr. Ballard’s leave and after his termination of employment, Ms. Borys made clear she thought JJ’s allegations and the investigation into Mr. Ballard were ‘fake news and evil’ — an opinion she expressed on multiple occasion(s) to OUR coworkers and leadership,” the new court filing alleges.

Operation Underground Railroad also claims Borys took time off from her work to travel with Ballard to promote the film “Sound of Freedom,” for which Ballard is an inspiration …

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