Paul Haggis can argue Church of Scientology behind rape allegation, judge rules

Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis will be allowed to argue that the Church of Scientology is behind a rape allegation against him, a judge in New York has ruled.

Haggis, who was separately accused over the summer of sexually assaulting a woman at an Italian film festival, will be permitted to argue that church members were involved in a previous rape allegation brought by film publicist Haleigh Breest dating back to 2013. That case, stemming from a civil lawsuit pursued by Breest, is set to go to trial next month.

Haggis has claimed that the encounter with Breest was consensual and that the allegation against him came in retaliation for his decision to leave Scientology and to become a vocal critic of it.

In legal preparations for the New York trial, Breest was denied permission to bring up the Italian allegations against Haggis. In that case, the director was held under house arrest for 16 days. An Italian judge later ruled that there was insufficient evidence to continue to detain him. There are conflicting reports as to the status of the investigation itself.