The Pope's Long Con
In 2016, Danny Ray Johnson was elected to state office. The fast talking biker-preacher known as "The Pope" paints himself as a 9/11 hero. He says he raised the dead! But our seven month investigation uncovered a much different picture: Attempted arson. Another mysterious fire. Alleged bootlegging and molestation in the church. For years, Johnson broke laws. Now he helps make them. What happens when the institutions we rely on look the other way? How does a liar slip through the cracks into a position of power? This six-part series attempts to find out. From Louisville Public Media. +
Check Out Our New Investigative Podcast, Dig
00:25:38
Thursday 19 December 2019
: From the newsroom that brought you the Pope’s Long Con, check out our newest podcast, Dig. In the first season, we bring you the results...
Monday 05 March 2018
: We knew the story wasn't over at the end of the last chapter — but no one could've known what would happen next.
When Our Institutions Fail
00:16:33
Thursday 14 December 2017
: Over and over, there were warning signs for law enforcement, political leaders and others. What happens when the institutions we rely on...
An Accusation Of Molestation
00:15:50
Thursday 14 December 2017
: A teenage girl thought of Johnson as a second dad. Her family trusted the pastor. But in 2013, he allegedly molested her. Hear her story....
An Empire Built On Blind Faith
00:19:00
Thursday 14 December 2017
: Go inside the Heart of Fire Church and meet the motorcycle-friendly congregation and gun choir. Check out the fellowship hall — or biker...
From Bastrop To Bullitt
00:23:29
Wednesday 13 December 2017
: Like Forrest Gump, "The Pope" just so happens to be in the front row, playing a pivotal role in America’s biggest moments. Time after...
Welcome To The Pope's House
00:17:32
Wednesday 13 December 2017
: Meet Danny Ray Johnson, Kentucky's fast-talking preacher-turned-politician who is known as the Pope. He paints himself as a 9/11 hero,...
Introducing The Pope's Long Con
00:00:56
Wednesday 29 November 2017
: What happens when the institutions we depend on fail at every level? What happens when lies go unchecked? From the pulpit to the statehouse,...