Pam Bondi helped John Travolta solve a major legal problem
Pam Bondi is facing mounting criticism over her longstanding ties to the Church of Scientology — and new questions about how a legal headache for Scientology celebrity John Travolta seemed to quietly disappear following her recent appointment of a key ally to a top federal role.
If RadarOnline.com According to multiple sources, US Attorney General Bondi – an outspoken Trump ally and evangelical Christian – has had public ties with the controversial church since at least 2010.
According to journalist and Scientology watcher Tony Ortegawhich posts its forensic investigations of the organization on The Underground Bunker site, Bondi’s recent decision to appoint a former Greenberg Traurig attorney, Gregory Kehoe, as interim U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida, has moved a criminal case that threatened to embarrass Travolta out of state court and into federal hands.
Ortega says the move wiped out attempts to question the actor under oath.
The complex case centers on the former pilots of Hollywood icon and leading Scientology member Travolta, Jean-Paul Lacruz Romero, 29, and Jordan Coursey, who accused in 2024 of defrauding the actor’s aviation companyConstellation Productions, from nearly $800,000 in inflated fuel bills.
In January 2025, a witness list was submitted naming Travolta and his longtime trainer James Marino, stating that they could testify about the “living conditions” at Travolta’s Ocala estate and fuel purchasing practices.
Romero’s attorney said, “Often, as a condition of their employment, the pilots would spend the night in accommodations provided by and accessible to Mr. Travolta while traveling or while making preflight arrangements.”
The lawyer added: “In addition, Mr. Travolta would be a primary witness as he is the person who has the most personal conversations and interactions with the pilots regarding aircraft maintenance, jet fuel, necessary aircraft supplies and flight plans.”
Prosecutors moved quickly to block Travolta’s request to appear as a witness — even asking for a closed-door hearing to prevent the actor and Marino from being deposed.
As a timeline surrounding the case on Ortega’s site shows, the case took a sudden turn when Bondi appointed Kehoe as the top federal prosecutor covering Travolta’s jurisdiction.
Within months, the pilots’ case was transferred from state to federal court under Kehoe’s supervision, reinstating the proceedings and invalidating Barone’s witness list.
Ortega said, “Bondi has developed a strong bond with Scientology, although she herself belongs to an evangelical Protestant church in the Tampa area. Wealthy Scientologists have raised money for Bondi, who attends fundraisers at their homes.”
He added: “On January 7, 2025, Jean-Paul LaCruz Romero’s very smart lawyer, Jo Barone, submits a witness list that includes Scientology celebrity John Travolta and his live-in trainer, Jimmy Marino.
“Barone plans to depose them both in the case and ask specifically about sleeping arrangements at Travolta’s Ocala home.
(The pilots accused of pranking Travolta often stayed at the house between flights.)
“The District Attorney’s Office panics and not only opposes Barone’s motion, but also asks the court to consider holding a closed-door hearing on its opposition to the ouster of Travolta and Marino.
“Barone then explains in another filing how completely unusual this request for a closed hearing is, and the prosecutor withdraws.”
Ortega further highlighted how the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida – led by Bondi appointee Gregory Kehoe – secured a grand jury indictment against pilots Jean-Paul LaCruz Romero and Jordan Coursey, who were already prosecuted in state court for the same alleged crime.
He said: “On October 27, 2025, the prosecution of LaCruz Romero and Coursey will officially move from state to federal court.
“Jo Barone’s attempt to depose John Travolta and Jimmy Marino is wiped out when the criminal case restarts and the two pilots get new lawyers.
“The federal court sets trial for December 1 and orders the government to turn over any exculpatory discovery to the defense.
“There is no mention of a statement from victim John Travolta or his special friend Jimmy Marino.”
Ortega also joked about how he believes the sudden turn in the case is thanks to Bondi’s Scientology links: “See how that works, kids? JT and Jimmy can breathe easy.”
Bondi’s connections to Scientology stretch back more than a decade. She gave a speech at Scientology’s Fort Harrison Hotel in 2016 praising efforts to combat human trafficking, and in 2014 she attended a fundraiser hosted by six prominent Scientologists.
Critics say Bondi’s new role “increases concerns about her impartiality in Scientology matters.”
