In 2009, "St. Petersburg Times" asked Rinder for an interview, but he declined. Then a month later, two Washington-based Scientology lawyers went to his home unannounced, informed Rinder that they knew about the newspaper's visit and asked what he had revealed. Subsequently, he spoke to the "Times" about Scientology's management and repeated beatings he gave as well as received. The interviews became part of the paper's "The Truth Rundown" special issue. Rinder said he was speaking out because "I don't want people to continue to be hurt and tricked and lied to."