Seeking her third term as Los Angeles County District Attorney, Jackie Lacey’s lead fell from nearly 54 percent to just a little under 52 percent with much of yesterday’s vote still uncounted. If she falls below 50 percent it will force a November runoff with former San Francisco DA George Gascón, who is in second place.
That early lead of nearly 54 percent was based largely on early voting by mail. As ballots that were cast Tuesday are being counted (and rather slowly, it appears), Lacey’s lead has been steadily falling. That may be an effect of news coverage Monday evening about Lacey’s husband, David Lacey, pointing a gun (with his finger on the trigger) at Black Lives Matter protesters who showed up at their home at 5:40 am on Monday.
Our interest in the election stems from Lacey’s inaction over the past three years since the Los Angeles Police Department publicly acknowledged that it was investigating the allegations of four different women who all say they were violently raped by Scientologist actor Danny Masterson in incidents that happened between 2001 and 2004. (We’ve reported that three more women have come forward to give interviews with the LAPD in recent months.)
We reported that a source close to the DA told us that Lacey was not going to charge the actor even with additional victims coming forward because she didn’t want to take on the Church of Scientology and complicate her political ambitions. The source told us that victims who wanted to see Masterson charged should hope that Gascón unseats Lacey in the election.
When Lacey ran unopposed to win her second term in 2016, she garnered 1.3 million votes. As of 7 am Eastern, the county has reported 792,087 votes in the DA contest, with most of them from early voting. So it would appear that another 500,000 votes or so may still be reported. Will that be enough to bring Lacey’s total from 51.65 percent down under 50.0? We’ll keep watching.
Update, 7:30 am: 830,614 votes counted in the DA contest, Lacey lead falls to 51.39 percent.
Update, 9:20 am: 966,307 votes counted in the DA contest, Lacey lead falls to 50.69 percent.
Wed. evening: 1,062,199 votes counted in the DA contest, Lacey lead falls to 50.14 percent.
Thu. evening: 1,100,139 votes counted in the DA contest, Lacey lead rises to 50.29 percent.
Fri. evening: 1,231,759 votes counted in the DA contest, Lacey lead falls to 49.9987 percent
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Scientology servitude, all in the family edition
From the London Org comes this heartwarming glimpse of an all-in Scientology family…
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Ask a Scientologist!
Here’s a question that came in to askascientologist@tonyortega.org, and we thought Mary Kahn would be the best person to answer it. If you have a question for one of our many experts, please send it in!
When you reached OT 3 and read about Xenu, how did you react? And how did you convince yourself to stay in Scientology after reading such bizarre stuff in Hubbard’s own handwriting?
When I first saw it, I couldn’t believe it. This was what several people I revered had done and exclaimed was the best thing for me to do and go for. So there I was, reading it. I wanted to look at the guy next to me and ask him if he believed it. But this was something we were taught not to discuss with anyone, including people who had done it. I expressed my incredulity to the course supervisor. He took me out into the hallway and told me to get my auditor hat on and just apply the tech of it.
I thought I would do just that and I did that as best I could. Why I continued beyond that is up to a cult expert to explain. I was in Scientology because in the beginning I belonged to a group of young adults of like mind, and I did find its counseling to be therapeutic. By the time I did OT III, with all the rules I had wrapped my mind around, I wasn’t going anywhere until years later when it became abusive to me personally on so many levels. It broke me then but that’s what it took.
— Mary Kahn
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“Theta doesn’t have space or time. And therefore it’s very simple: Theta can just as well be in Milwaukee as Paris, simultaneously. And the only reason why you are this size conceptually and not the size of the galaxy conceptually is because you find it handier to conceive yourselves to be this size. And you’re actually looking at a piece of the physical universe — you, your body. But as far as your mind is concerned, there is no reason why it can’t only stretch through this galaxy but could go through all the island universes. You see how that could be? There is no limit, then, on how wide a mind can expand or how small it can contract, because it’s not size and it’s not time or space. Also, there is no reason why I can’t think something today and have you pick it up six months ago.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 4, 1952
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“The current world situation is a conflict of powerful beings without individual identities but who operate as group identities and control first and second dynamic oriented beings. Scientology has barely touched these beings. They do not run individual bodies. I am just scraping the surface of the charge involved. There are probably only a few who will read this and become aware of the higher dynamic beings that they are attached to. Once one has freed oneself of the beings who have been BTs attached to oneself then it is time to look at who has one been a BT to and detach oneself from them. That will require a massive leap in responsibility. How to audit this is not easy to look into. LRH went into this in Class 8 tape one but I have only recently realized what he really meant. OT3 and NOTs are about freeing oneself from one’s BTs. After that one has to realize who one has been a BT to and free yourself.”
“Bob, no offense, but thoughts don’t have mass.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for April 14 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ (Valerie’s options.)
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology: March 11 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice, defense motions to quash), March 20 (demurrers by Masterson and Scientology), March 27 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe’s attorneys have asked for discovery, April 20 hearing set (motion to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Complaint filed.
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Start making your plans…
Head over to the convention website and meet us in St. Louis!
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology made him suicidal, but that was only the beginning of his problems
[TWO years ago] Scientology laying on the ‘religious freedom’ act thicker than ever as its TV channel nears
[THREE years ago] Wealthy Scientology donor Joy Villa plays latest prank on ‘Gays for Trump’ today in DC
[FOUR years ago] Scientology officials panicked about overdose death of star Narconon pupil: Boyfriend
[FIVE years ago] Scenes from the ‘Going Clear’ publicity caravan in midtown Manhattan
[SIX years ago] Bruce Hines takes us through Scientology’s Original Operating Thetan Level Seven!
[SEVEN years ago] Document Leak: Scientology Sexual Histories
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Use Kids to Solicit Donations? Why Not!
[TWELVE years ago] What to Get L. Ron Hubbard for his Birthday
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,867 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,371 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,891 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 911 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 802 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,109 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,977 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,751 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,525 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,871 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,437 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,356 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,524 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,105 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,366 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,404 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,117 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,642 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,169 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,732 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,872 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,192 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,047 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,167 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,522 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,825 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,931 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,333 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,205 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,788 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,283 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,537 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,646 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 4, 2020 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 14 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
