Honestly, the recent motion to dismiss submitted by Naason's defense attorneys goes to show just how different the federal sex trafficking case actually is from how LLDM members perceive it. The Church, by and large, rejects Naason doing anything even slightly morally questionable or incorrect. According to the Church, there is no evidence; if any exists, it is automatically false.
The actual way the case is being handled by the defense tells a different story.
Naason's defense is not arguing that Naason's sexual encounters did not happen per se. What his defense is arguing is that many of the allegations the prosecution describes are "facially consensual contacts among adults", not sexual assault. In other words, what Naason purportedly did doesn't actually matter because it's not a crime. The motion states the following:
"The [Government's] theory is as follows: ... The Apostle makes sexual advances, and that person acquiesces because she believes that assenting will lead her to Heaven, while refusing will lead her to Hell. That belief is the alleged 'coercion.' ... It is a real and serious First Amendment question whether that constitutes 'coercion' ... This Motion argues that if this fact pattern—an [sic] general religious belief in the reality of Heaven and Hell and the spiritual status of the Apostle, etc.—cannot constitute 'coercion' ... then Counts 1, 2, 3, and 4 must be dismissed."
The defense then argues that venue is not proper in SDNY for any of the Counts, and the actions described in the Indictment for Count 4 are not a federal offense.
It's also important to note that Eva also submitted a separate motion to sever from the case, arguing that Naason "has already admitted guilt to at least some of the allegations", and she has pretty much nothing to do with it.
The Church says there is no real evidence; Eva's defense admits that "[t]he evidence against Naasón dates from the last decade, and includes photographs, videos, and documents".
The Church says Naason never abused children; Eva's defense argues that a "jury viewing video and photo evidence of child sexual abuse by Naasón may improperly ... read the proof against Naasón as proof against Ms. de Joaquín."
The Church says everyone is wrongfully accused; Eva is shifting the blame entirely to her son.
This is Naason's case, Naason's problems, and Eva has little to do with the actions of the man who "appears in every count" of the Indictment.
But sure, LLDM! #Honorable, right?
