Let’s bring one of Scientology’s most notorious bag men out of the shadows

 
The last two days we’ve remarked on Chrissie Carnell-Bixler’s remarkable letter to Congress, and how she is trying her best to explain what it is like to be a former Scientologist who is being harassed by an organization with a very well-earned reputation for retaliating against people who expose its secrets.

Simply put, Scientology is built on decades of psychological terrorism.

That’s the phrase that Mike Rinder has recently begun using and is encouraging others to adopt, and he should know. He once headed the department of psychological terror at the Church of Scientology, otherwise known as the Office of Special Affairs.

“It is unique in that the ‘doctrine’ of Scientology — i.e., the written and spoken words of L. Ron Hubbard — contains directives for Scientology to engage in intelligence activities, including gathering information, spying, executing operations to intimidate and ultimately destroy people and even framing them,” Mike wrote in a recent blog post.

In 2014, Rinder made some really interesting disclosures about how Scientology carried out that kind of terror program by naming names, the “black bag department” he called them, professional thugs and goons who had worked for him during his tenure directing OSA’s dirty tricks.

One of Scientology’s bag men that Rinder named was an operator named Russ Andrews. Here’s what Mike said about him:

Also in Los Angeles, but very much behind the scenes is Russ Andrews. He is the husband of Fran Andrews who runs CCHR International. For many years Russ has been the “go-to” guy to get phone and financial records and run plates and get criminal record checks done. Nobody ever wants to know how this is accomplished, but it is a well-known fact that there are people who cultivate “friends” in the phone companies and banks who like to make a little extra cash. This is how the church tracks down a lot of connections — finding out what numbers someone has been calling or receiving calls from tells you a LOT. And of course, financial information can be a goldmine.

We thought it might be useful to bring Russ Andrews into the light of day, especially after what we discovered him talking about openly at his Facebook account.

 
This is Andrews, his wife Fran, and their three children who are all in the Sea Org. Their son is married to Caroline Overgaard, left, daughter to Scientology donor and ex-husband of Joy Villa, Thorsten Overgaard.

As Rinder indicated, Fran runs Scientology’s front group that goes by the name Citizens Commission on Human Rights. It’s CCHR’s mission to carry out operations to propagandize against the psychiatric profession, which Scientology hates with a white-hot passion. Fran’s front group runs the edifice on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood with the bizarre name “Psychiatry: An Industry of Death Museum.”

We’ve pointed out numerous times that CCHR is the most unhinged of Scientology’s propaganda fronts, but it does sometimes keep its TRs in so it can play nice and influence politicians, like in 2015 when it organized a campaign against a bill in Texas and apparently convinced Governor Abbot to veto it.

But if CCHR craves acceptance with policy makers, we wondered how they might respond to a question. What does CCHR and its director, Fran Andrews, have to say about her husband, Scientology black bag operator Russ Andrews? Especially when, at his Facebook account, he exhibits such a repellant relationship to the concept of human rights?

Here’s the message we sent to CCHR, and to Russ Andrews’ business, Triwest Investigative Services:

Dear Ms. Rauscher,

I’m a reporter in New York, and I have some questions for CCHR’s board of directors.

CCHR’s Executive Director is Fran Andrews. Her husband Russ Andrews is a longtime operative for the Church of Scientology as revealed by its former head of the Office of Special Affairs, Mike Rinder.

Rinder said this about Mr. Andrews at his blog: “Russ has been the ‘go-to’ guy to get phone and financial records and run plates and get criminal record checks done. Nobody ever wants to know how this is accomplished, but it is a well-known fact that there are people who cultivate ‘friends’ in the phone companies and banks who like to make a little extra cash. This is how the church tracks down a lot of connections — finding out what numbers someone has been calling or receiving calls from tells you a LOT. And of course, financial information can be a goldmine.”

It has been brought to my attention that Mr. Andrews engages in abusive misogynistic, homophobic, and transphobic rhetoric at his personal Facebook page, records of which I have downloaded.

Specifically, Mr. Andrews refers to Vice President Kamala Harris consistently not by her name but by the epithet “whore” — and spells it “wh0re” in order to get by Facebook censors.

He refers to LGBT persons as “h0m0z,” again using zeroes in order to bypass censors.

He has a particular fascination for transgender individuals, writing insulting language about their appearance, and refers to former president Obama’s wife Michelle as a man.

In all, I have many examples of the hurtful rhetoric of Mr. Andrews, and I am asking for a statement from Mrs. Andrews and CCHR about this longtime Scientologist and Scientology operative, Russ Andrews, and how his public statements reflect on the Church of Scientology and particularly on CCHR and its supposed commitment to human rights.

Sincerely,

Tony Ortega
Editor
The Underground Bunker

We’re waiting for a response.

 
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Jon Atack talks to Karen de la Carriere

Atack says: “As a ‘Class XII’ auditor, Karen De La Carriere is one of the few people to complete Scientology’s ‘training Bridge.’ She talked openly with me about her experiences aboard Hubbard’s flagship Apollo, confirming Mike Rinder’s statements about the stench of the men’s dorm and the confinement of Bruce Welch, which led to both the Introspection Rundown (on which Lisa McPherson later died) and the List XI Rundown. Karen also told me about the campaign waged against her by Scientology’s Guardian’s Office of Special Affairs, where her son Alexander Jentzsch was ordered to talk to her about a hate site that revealed she’d had a ‘boob job.’ Soon afterwards, Alexander died of pneumonia, because he was not given the $20 of antibiotics that would have saved him. At the time, his father, president of the Church of Scientology International Heber Jentzsch, was imprisoned in the notorious SP Hole. After forty years in Scientology, Karen now rejects the ‘Technology’ and the many fanciful claims made for its efficacy by Ron Hubbard.”

 
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Source Code

“One girl had married a man named Tom. She was very dissatisfied with Tom. She very much liked a fellow named George. She separated from Tom and married George. We took her into her past and found that her mother was married to a man named George and was very much afraid that George would leave her. All this was in the poor girl’s engrams. They told her she had to love George and stay with George. There was a person in the case named Tom whom her mother detested. This girl had been in love with about twenty-three men, all named George. This was a reactive mind marriage.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 13, 1951

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“What one gets Comm Eved for is in the P/Ls, FOs, FSOs, CBOs and HCOBs. You can’t be Comm Eved for failing to follow an illegal order. You sure can be for departing from policy issues. Orders don’t equal orders equal orders. That’s the road to disaster. Some orders are senior to others. A dock worker telling you to put on your jacket is not the same as your division head telling you to do so. You have policy to keep things straight. If policy doesn’t cover, request clarification. If you are doing something other than your hat, sooner or later it will catch up to you. I count on you to wear your hat as laid down by P/Ls, FOs, CBOs, FSOs and HCOBs. Don’t let me down.” — The Commodore (1971)

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The One World Government is here and there are 3 alternatives for this One World: Gray ETs, Marcabians or Scientologists. No. 1 is the mind control agenda of the Gray ETs/US Military at deep underground military bases in western USA. (As described in Bill Robertson’s ‘UFO Lecture’). No. 2 is the Marcabians/European Union model of Economic Control and mass media manipulation. (As described in Bill Robertson’s ‘UFO Lecture’). No. 3 is Hubbard’s Plan for an International City and a new civilization. This is described in the taped lectures ‘International City’ and ‘The Free Being.’ Captain Bill Robertson (founder of the Scientology Free Zone) also has more plans on this with his New Civilization Plan lectures an programs and the ‘UFO Lecture.’ The democratic wogs and ‘Scienos’ in your friend’s list have chosen alternative No. 1, the Gray ET/US military base mind control agenda. European wogs, American and Scienos in favor of Income Tax, have chosen alternative 2, the Marcabian’s/EU control by economics and mass media. Not as bad as the first one. Scientologists in CoS, the Free Zone, independents and some non Scientology OTs support Alternative 3, the agenda of freedom as described in the taped lecture ‘The Free Being.'”

 
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Past is Prologue

2000: Stacy Brooks reported that the Lisa McPherson Trust has already been talking to Scientologists, and some are prepared to leave. “I won’t go into any detail about who or where this person is, but as of yesterday afternoon there is another confirmed Miscavige Church of Scientology dropout. This was someone who had been drawn in by a management seminar. His wife called me last week, having found out about the LMT via the internet. She told the usual story: her husband thought he was going to a seminar about how to improve his business but it turned out to be a front for the C of S. Gradually he became more and more of a stranger to her and she began to be alarmed. He stopped consulting her before handing over large amounts of money to them. He started warning her not to criticize Scientology or he would leave her. One minute he would be raging at her, the next minute he would be ‘handling’ her.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Scientology was touted as the religion for the space age, but stylistically it’s firmly stuck in the time period of, let’s say, 1950 to the 1980s. In its own way Scientology and its members come across as being every bit as tragically unhip as their Fundamentalist Christian counterparts. Squares from Space.”

 
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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 arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to March 2.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Charged in Brooklyn federal court on Feb 4. Arraigned on Feb 9. Status conf. on Feb 16.

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.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. March 8: Status conference.
— 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.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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] Agency that wouldn’t check on Shelly Miscavige makes visit to Underground Bunker commenter
[TWO years ago] ‘Aftermath’ subject Brandon Reisdorf arrested for entering San Diego Scientology church
[THREE years ago] Evidence, finally, of how Scientology obsessively tracks down its former members
[FOUR years ago] A new document shows how much Scientology obsesses over every member’s status
[FIVE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY’S SPACE MAN: As of 2013, active Scientologists fewer than 20,000 worldwide
[SIX years ago] Days before crucial hearing, Scientology pulls out a ghost to sway a federal judge
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology video: Some of the best L. Ron Hubbard word salad ever
[EIGHT years ago] Underground Bunker Reader Gets Declared a Suppressive Person by Scientology
[NINE years ago] Anonymous vs Scientology: Chanology’s Quadrennium in NYC

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 13, 2021 at 07:00

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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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

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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