I think you are exactly right, Jim.

If it weren't for that article, the cult would never have gone after John with respect to the "stolen" internal IRCC documents.   It it highly unlikely that IRCC sustained any damages because somebody disclosed a supposedly "secret" document about a non-profit organization.

And the reason they went after him was because the article was credible, truthful and effective in shining a light on Rawat.  It probably pretty much ruined Rawat's chances for any kind of growth on that continent and I'm sure Rawat was mad as hell about it.  Probably some of the EV/IRCC honchos who had worked with John over the years were equally pissed off.

When John, as you say, did something "arguably wrong" it made him vulnerable to attack, even though I think John would have eventually prevailed legally.  But most ordinary people do not have the funds, time and emotional stamina, to see it through to the end.

Plus, John just seems to be the kind of person who makes a really good investigative journalist.  He really gets behind what he is doing.  So, perhaps he was just a bit too devoted, in the sense that he didn't take the time to protect himself in the process.

Plus, I will say it again, the Rawat cult is particularly fanatical, nutty, vindictive in Australia.  For some reason, on average,  the premies are just a bit more wacko there than they are elsewhere.  So, there was that element, too, not to mention the obviously inadequate free speech and freedom of the press protections in Queensland, which I understand is about on the level of Alabama (Alberta for you, Jim) when it comes to protecting individual rights.