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The full investigation by Trey Bundy.

For decades, the Jehovah’s Witnesses have used their First Amendment right to freedom of religion to defend their distinct beliefs and practices. Members are taught that Armageddon is imminent. To enter “God’s Kingdom,” believers must remain separate from secular society and obey the edicts of Jehovah’s Witness leaders based in Brooklyn, known as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. But in a San Francisco courtroom, these Jehovah’s Witness leaders stand accused of issuing and enforcing edicts that cover up child sexual abuse inside the organization’s 14,000 U.S. congregations. The Jehovah’s Witnesses maintain that the First Amendment protects their right to set their own policies, even in cases of child abuse.

You can also watch our investigation on PBS NewsHour.

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Adithya Sambamurthy

asambamurthy@revealnews.org

Adithya Sambamurthy is a video producer for Reveal, with a background in photojournalism and documentary film. He joined Reveal after working as a staff photographer for The Bay Citizen, a nonprofit journalism organization that merged with The Center for Investigative Reporting in 2012. Sambamurthy previously worked on documentaries for National Geographic, PBS FRONTLINE/World and numerous independent productions. He also worked as a photojournalist at the San Jose Mercury News in California; The News-Press of Fort Myers, Florida; and the St. Petersburg (now Tampa Bay) Times. Since joining Reveal, he has produced, shot and edited stories for the website, as well as for a number of Reveal's broadcast and online partners, including the PBS NewsHour, KQED public television and ABC News. Sambamurthy has been nominated for a national Emmy Award, shared in a George Foster Peabody Award and received commendations from the Society of Professional Journalists and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

Trey Bundy is a former reporter for Reveal, covering youth. After beginning his career at the San Francisco Chronicle, he joined The Bay Citizen, where he covered child welfare, juvenile justice, education and crime. His work also has appeared in The New York Times, SF Weekly, The Huffington Post, the PBS NewsHour, Planet magazine and other news outlets. He has won three awards from the Society of Professional Journalists. In 2009, he won the national Hearst Journalism Award for article of the year. Bundy has a bachelor's degree in journalism from San Francisco State University. He is based in Reveal's Emeryville, California, office.