Why were Guardian’s Office agents arrested in 1979?

In 1979, agents of the Guardian’s Office were arrested because they had infiltrated various United States government agencies.1

The Guardian’s Office had been established in 1966 to defend the church against perceived attacks, and in the 1970s, it launched an extensive intelligence operation. Frustrated by the lack of response to requests for government documents under the Freedom of Information Act, some leaders within the office approved a plan to infiltrate these agencies. These actions were illegal, and the agents involved were subsequently tried and convicted. Following these events, the church conducted a widespread investigation, resulting in the firing or expulsion of several associated individuals and the eventual disbanding of the Guardian’s Office.1