On March 23, 2004, Reverend Sun Myung Moon was proclaimed “King of Peace” at a coronation ceremony held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. In attendance were twelve U.S. lawmakers. In his speech, Moon proclaimed himself “humanity’s Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent.”

John Gorenfeld broke the story. With original reporting and new information available nowhere else, Bad Moon Rising introduces readers to the bizarre world of Moon, founder of the Unification Church and ultra-conservative owner of the Washington Times and United Press International. Many Americans remember Moon forcing teens to sell carnations at bus stops and airports during the 1970s. Since then, Moon has stealthily accrued power in Washington and claimed posthumous endorsements from George Washington, Confucius, and Martin Luther.

Here for the first time is the story of Moon’s quest for influence in Washington, with a growing media empire rooted in the heart of the GOP message machine. Gorenfeld uncovers Moon’s support for Republican operatives and politicians—including the Bush family—and reveals a hidden saga of political corruption and megalomania.

John Gorenfeld has written for the Guardian, Salon.com, the American Prospect, Radar, National Public Radio, and Mother Jones about everything from fugitive dot.com criminals to North Korean monster movies. A former newspaper crime reporter, he made international headlines when he exposed the Capitol Hill party for Moon. “Pray for our detractors,” the head of Moon’s American church has said, “especially John Gorenfeld.”

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“A mind-altering exposé of the cult within the cult, the Moon empire, and its astonishing influence inside Washington, the Republican Party, and the vast right-wing conspiracy.”
—Sidney Blumenthal, How Bush Rules: Chronicles of a Radical Regime

“Bad Moon Rising is stunningly good. Stylish, exquisitely researched, and morally courageous, it reveals corruption to a depth and breadth unimagined by mere novelists.”
—Rick Perlstein, Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Unhinging of America

“Bad Moon Rising is a riveting investigation into how a cult leader has guilefully infiltrated and exploited the very heart of our democracy. John Gorenfeld lays bare the real story no one else has dared to tell.”
—Sarah Posner, God’s Profits: Faith, Fraud, and the Republican Crusade for Values Voters

“Most of the press has treated Sun Myung Moon as an entertaining eccentric, overlooking the consequences of his widening reach into the corridors of power in the United States. John Gorenfeld has produced a book that explains—cogently and persuasively—why we need to seriously consider the Rev. Moon’s broadening influence and its implications.”
—Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“A creepy kleptocratic tale of perverse messianic delusion and amoral Washington elitists that would be utterly unbelievable if not for the fact that it’s all horrifyingly, ridiculously true.”
—Ken Layne, Wonkette

“Bad Moon Rising is the kind of fierce, uncompromising journalism that always matters in a world of ruthless phonies.”
—Tony Norman, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Will Rockafellow
w.rockafellow@p3books.com
415-339-4176

“A mind-altering exposé of the cult within the cult, the Moon empire, and its astonishing influence inside Washington, the Republican Party, and the vast right-wing conspiracy.”
Sidney Blumenthal, former Clinton advisor, author of How Bush Rules

BAD MOON RISING:
HOW REVEREND MOON CREATED THE WASHINGTON TIMES, SEDUCED THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT, AND BUILT AN AMERICAN KINGDOM
BY JOHN GORENFELD

ON MARCH 23, 2004, Reverend Sun Myung Moon was proclaimed “King of Peace” at a coronation ceremony held in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. In attendance were twelve U.S. lawmakers. In his speech, Moon proclaimed himself “humanity’s Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent.”

John Gorenfeld broke the story. With original reporting and new information available nowhere else, Bad Moon Rising introduces readers to the bizarre world of Moon, founder of the Unification Church and ultra-conservative owner of the Washington Times and United Press International. Many Americans remember Moon forcing teens to sell carnations at bus stops and airports during the 1970s. Since then, Moon has stealthily accrued power in Washington and claimed posthumous endorsements from George Washington, Confucius, and Martin Luther.

Here for the first time is the story of Moon’s quest to influence world events with a growing media empire designed to control GOP policy. Gorenfeld uncovers Moon’s support for Republican operatives and politicians—including the Bush family—and reveals a hidden saga of political corruption and megalomania.

MORE ADVANCE PRAISE FOR JOHN GORENFELD’S BAD MOON RISING:

“Bad Moon Rising is stunningly good. Stylish, exquisitely researched, and morally courageous, it reveals corruption to a depth and breadth unimagined by mere novelists.”
—Rick Perlstein, author of Before the Storm: Barry Goldwater and the Unmaking of the American Consensus

“Bad Moon Rising is a riveting investigation into how a cult leader has guilefully infiltrated and exploited the very heart of our democracy. John Gorenfeld lays bare the real story no one else has dared to tell.”
—Sarah Posner, author of God’s Profits: Faith, Fraud, and the Republican Crusade for Values Voters

“Most of the press has treated Sun Myung Moon as an entertaining eccentric, overlooking the consequences of his widening reach into the corridors of power in the United States. John Gorenfeld has produced a book that explains—cogently and persuasively—why we need to seriously consider the Rev. Moon’s broadening influence and its implications.”
—Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“A creepy kleptocratic tale of perverse messianic delusion and amoral Washington elitists that would be utterly unbelievable if not for the fact that it’s all horrifyingly, ridiculously true.”
—Ken Layne, Wonkette

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
John Gorenfeld has written for the Guardian, Salon.com, the American Prospect, Radar, National Public Radio, and Mother Jones about everything from fugitive dot.com criminals to North Korean monster movies. A former newspaper crime reporter, he made international headlines when he exposed the Capitol Hill party for Moon. “Pray for our detractors,” the head of Moon’s American church has said, “especially John Gorenfeld.”

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Hardcover, $24.95
344 pages
ISBN 978-0-9794822-3-6

MORE INFORMAITON
www.BadMoonRisingBook.com OR www.p3books.com

REVIEW COPIES:

Carol Cecchini

P: 415.339.4111

E: C.Cecchini@p3books.com