OK, this is kind of funny. Scientology is apparently panicked because Mark Bunker and your proprietor haven’t been talking on the phone lately.
Bunker’s a busy guy now that he’s a city councilman in Clearwater, Florida — we are still giddy that he actually won his election last year — and he has better things to do than talk on the phone to us about every little thing happening in the sleepy beach town.
And frankly, we’ve been awfully busy too with so much going on with Scientology around the rest of the world, and so we just haven’t picked up the phone much to see what Wise Beard Man is up to.
And that’s apparently driving Scientology nuts, judging by their most recent records request with the city, which Bunker was kind enough to share with us. Where are the phone records showing conversations with Ortega it demands to know, and Scientology’s corporate secretary Glen Stilo also can’t understand why Bunker doesn’t have evidence that he’s also been talking lately with Mike Rinder and Leah Remini.
There must be records! The troika must be conspiring with Bunker! Where are they!!
Well, anyway, we figured you’d enjoy seeing Stilo’s latest obsessive letter as the church demands to know every utterance made by the city councilman who has proposed making Scientology tourism — gawking at the local crazies — a thing in downtown Clearwater.
Glen Stilo Letter: Bunker r… by Tony Ortega
Bonus item: Rare view inside the Underground Bunker and the special phone we use that goes directly to Mark Bunker and that generates no records for Scientology to get its hands on!
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“In August I wrote Kennedy; he was offered by me at that time help in the space race, speeding up the IQ, straightening out pilots. And this, the White House has already asked us twice for presentations of Scientology and we’ve granted them, and they have done weird things like fire the fellow who asked for them and that sort of thing….And anyway, in August, thinking that it would be a good gesture I wrote him a letter concerning this, at the White House, and time rolled along and the FDA suddenly became very interested and the organization was sniffing around the corners. And suddenly the US government — let’s not compartment this thing down, see, it’s just the government — issued a smear campaign in the Washington press, calling us all sorts of hard names, organized this thing completely, down to the last detail and actually the papers were on the streets before anybody appeared at the organization. Interesting, isn’t it? Hours later somebody appeared at the organization. Anyway, they raided a church and seized philosophical and religious texts for burning and meters. Armed raid on a church. Stop and think about it for a moment. How could they get away with this? How’d they do this?” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 8, 1963
“An International hard news story is about to come off in this port. Nothing to do with us. But reporters will be all over the place and our rat guards are not very effective. A ‘Hard news Story’ means a staged or actual event as different than a statement by someone. As this particular staged event is not very newsworthy really and as we are lately in the news in our effort to hit at the UK Parliament, the reporters would probably use us to justify their being here. Policy is to avoid hard news stories. Don’t get mixed up in International events like revolutions or International PR efforts. Therefore, although all is cool, we’ll slide down the coast long before the event and stay here lengthily another day. DDT kills flies. What de-verminates reporters? So we sail the 11th. Hey, the reporter who painted up the Dekki Le Moate scene in DK is rumored to have been sacked! Maybe his paper had good sense after all. Holland is apparently also under control on this I hear.” — The Commodore, January 8, 1971
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“Is it possible that Scientology PCs and OTs could just be sitting in a chair imagining all the time and not really running engrams or BTs? It’s all imagination. Now I don’t know if that is the case but after looking into how abberrated Hubbard and many OTs are it wouldn’t surprise me if running these things are just a waste of time. Seriously, like fact check OT 3, fact check the whole religion. It might ruin Scientology for you but I’ve concluded certain parts are great, maybe 50 percent of it, but the rest is terrible and some people get gobbled up by it all.”
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1998: Grady Ward, a defendant in a copyright violation suit from Scientology, posted a filing to delay his case. The filing contains several surprises, including another person who may come forward to admit he posted the Scamizdat materials. “In the last few weeks the pro se defendant has been able to obtain some limited advice of counsel in this case regarding the admissibility of evidence. The counsel has strongly suggested that I obtain an expert witness for use at trial….Two persons claiming responsibility for the ‘Scamizdat’ and ‘Vorlon’ postings have come forward within the last week and have declared that they intend to give testimony at trial rebutting RTC’s allegations that Grady Ward had anything to do with either anonymous posters or their postings. The real Vorlon, Johan Wevers of the Netherlands, is now willing to come forward and admit his culpability and to deny that Grady Ward had any part of the procuring or distribution of the NOTs as falsely alleged by the plaintiff. Similarly, a resident of the United States has communicated with me that he is willing to step forward at trial and to admit that he took a role in the Scamizdat postings and that to his knowledge Grady Ward had no part in them. He is now conferring with an attorney.”
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“It really doesn’t matter if the people still in the Church of Scientology are happy or not because the organization itself is a criminal conspiracy that needs to be brought down. Are we suppose to go easy on organized crime because its members might be, generally speaking, having a good time?”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 20.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11. Hearing on motion for sanctions Jan 14.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] If Scientology forced your children to disconnect from you, what would you do?
[TWO years ago] Tonight, Leah Remini makes it clear how much Scientology worships money above all else
[THREE years ago] Joy Villa’s ex talks about her domestic violence arrest and the child she put up for adoption
[FOUR years ago] Talking to the FBI agent who canceled her talk at Scientology’s ‘mecca’
[FIVE years ago] Jon Atack: The best thing ever written about the language traps in Scientology’s Bible, ‘Dianetics’
[SIX years ago] Jefferson Hawkins provides Scientology a way to happiness that actually works
[SEVEN years ago] We talk to Ray Jeffrey about today’s brutally long day in a Texas court battling Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Nancy Many’s Life in Scientology Dramatized on January 16 Investigation Discovery Series
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Happiness Coming to a Library Near You!
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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 2,175 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,679 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,199 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,219 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,110 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,417 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,285 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,059 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,863 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,179 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,745 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,664 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,832 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,413 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,674 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,712 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,425 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,950 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 305 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,480 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,031 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,180 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,500 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,355 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,474 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,830 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,133 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,239 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,641 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,513 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,096 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,591 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,845 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,954 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 8, 2021 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, 15 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
