Day three of the Danny Masterson prelim: Jane Doe 3’s cross-examination continues

We were struck by a comment made after yesterday’s session by our friend TX Lawyer. He pointed out that it is the job of Danny Masterson’s defense attorney Tom Mesereau not only to push the witnesses but also the judge.

Mesereau certainly has been doing that, and we also give him points for how well he knows the case and the evidence. As TX Lawyer also pointed out, what Mesereau is attempting to do is find fault lines in the preliminary hearing that he can exploit when he has a freer hand, at the trial itself.

Mesereau has pushed to find inconsistencies in the stories first of Jane Doe 1 and then of Christina B. (And again, we’ll remind you that we are using her abbreviate court name only because she had already come forward and identified herself years ago. The others haven’t, and we are stunned that news organizations are using the partial names of Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 in their stories.)

But even though Mesereau has found differences, for example, in some of the things Jane Doe 1 said in a Scientology report in 2004, we are repeatedly reminded, even by Mesereau himself, of the Scientology context of those earlier reports.

So far in the first two days of this preliminary hearing, the Church of Scientology has been taking a beating, even as Judge Charlaine Olmedo has explained that the church is not a defendant in this case. Her decision to allow questions about how Scientology factored into preventing these women from coming forward earlier has been huge. The judge really seems to get it.

But would a jury? We don’t know. And Mesereau seems anxious to get in front of one.

When we start this morning at 9 am, he’ll be finishing up his cross-examination of Christina B. The prosecutor, Deputy DA Reinhold Mueller, will have a chance for some re-direct, and then we will probably today get a chance to hear from the third alleged victim, Jane Doe 2. We hope you stick around as we provide updates as soon as we can.

 
Morning session

Danny today is wearing a dark blue jacket and black slacks. In the family row appear to be Carol and Jordan Masterson, and two people we can’t recognize because of their masks.

Continuing the cross examination of Christina B.

Mesereau asks her if she had made a report to the FBI. Yes. You claimed that Danny Masterson had anal sex while you were asleep. Correct. No mention of the November 2001 incident. I don’t remember. When did you last see that report? I never saw it.

Did you tell the police that at any time Danny Masterson had threatened to hurt you? I don’t remember.

When you told your husband about the anal rape, you told him that Danny Masterson was a good person, didn’t you? I defended him. I said he saved my life because he got me into Scientology. I said that to many people.

Did you tell your husband that he was a really good person at any time? I don’t remember that.

Isn’t it true that Danny Masterson never threatened to hurt you physically? He never did.

When you first met him, you were at a part to celebrate a contract for your modeling career. Yes. You were 18 at the time? Yes. How old was he? 22 I think.

Six years later, what state was your career in. (Irrelevant, sustained.)

Did you blame Danny Masterson for ruining your career? He liked it that I was home. He definitely didn’t want me out working as a model.

Did you blame him for ruining your modeling career? No.

Did you want to marry Danny Masterson I don’t know how to answer that.

He didn’t want to marry you, did he? (Argumentative, sustained.)

Did he say he didn’t want to marry you? After we broke up, he cried. Well, he didn’t cry, but it was one of the few times he was emotional. His mother had made him the father to his younger brother and sister. So he didn’t want to be married.

After you broke up, did you care that he married someone else? No.

Hey, and I just got served a subpoena by Mesereau. Someone get Pilutik on the phone for me. Ha.

 
Lunch break

OK, well, isn’t it fun to get a mash note from Tom Mesereau. We tucked that into our backpack and got back to work.

So Meseraeau had finished up his cross-examination, and now Mueller was on re-direct of Christina B.

He then brought up the recording of her with Reyes which we told you yesterday Mesereau had used so dishonestly.

Mueller was all over it. Mesereau said that in that interview you said Danny was “trying to have sex” with you. But at no time did you actually say those words? Correct. It was Detective Reyes who said that, not your words. Correct.

Bingo.

At any point in time during that interview did Det Reyes misunderstand the situation. I thought she understood. If you knew she didn’t understand that, you would have corrected her? That’s right.

Then he turned to the interview that she had done with him, and Mueller pointed out that in fact she did say that Danny Masterson’s penis went into her vagina. (It’s very clear from the recording. Mesereau’s mischaracterization of it was bizarre.)

You were asked about the report you made to Scientology about the December incident and not the November incident. And you said it was because the November incident was “normal.” What did you mean by that?

He was my first real relationship. When I say it was normal that’s all I knew. I thought it was a normal thing in a relationship.

So, aggressive sex, that’s what became normal? Yes, and other things. He would put his hands down my pants in front of his mother. (Emphasis hers.) That was normal.

During the relationship, did you fall in love with him? I loved him, I did. After you broke up in March 2002, did you still love him? Of course. Did you still have feelings for him? No.

And you testified you had consensual sex with him twice after the breakup? A few times. The first time was in LA, the last time was in NY.

The first time, why did you have sex with him after the breakup? I honestly don’t know.

After the breakup, did you understand the significance of the two acts you described in court yesterday? I did, immediately. But then I believed that it was my fault, and I had to take responsibility for it.

Believing you were at fault, was this because of Scientology? Yes, sir. And you truly believed that at this time. I truly believed it.

The time you slept with him in New York, you still believed it? Yes, sir.

Was there something happened at that time in New York that ended everything? Yes, sir. What was that? I was living in New York. He met up with two of my friends at a bar. I was a little drunk. My two friends left and Danny and I got in a cab. We went to the Tribeca Grand Hotel. His room was dark. He put me on the bed. It was pitch black. We started having sex. Then there was a flash of light.

What was that? He took a photo of me. I was naked. I felt so violated. I told him to stop, I was done with him.

Did you think he had changed? We had a really nice time out with friends. He reminded me of his old self. Really charming. So you thought he had changed? I hoped so. I didn’t know he was doing this to other girls. I thought he had saved my life with Scientology. It was no good dragging up those things and thinking about them because then you can’t stop thinking of them.

OK, now the most television moment so far…

Mueller asks to borrow Mesereau’s copy of the Introduction to Scientology Ethics book.

He leafs through it.

You were shown this book yesterday? Yes, sir. You’re familiar with it, did you own a copy? Yes. Was it required? Every Scientologist I knew owned a copy of that book.

Judge Olmedo asked if the book had actually been entered as evidence. No, so Mueller enters Mesereau’s copy of the book as People’s Exhibit Five.

You were asked about a particular section of this book telling you that reporting a Scientologist to law enforcement was a suppressive act. You looked through that section? I did.

You also testified yesterday that Scientology believes that law enforcement is the enemy?

Mueller now directs her not to the chapter that Mesereau had asked her to look at, but another chapter titled A New Hope for Justice.

He shows her a paragraph that describes law enforcement as corrupt. “They call it wog law,” Christina B says.

Judge: What law?

Christina B now explains how to spell wog, and says its a derogatory term for non-Scientologists.

Judge Olmedo: Does it stand for something? and then a little later… Have you seen Harry Potter?

Christina B is a little confused about this. She apparently isn’t familiar with the series.

Judge Olmedo: So wog is like muggle?

We could only bask in the greatness of this moment.

Mueller reads another line from the book which contains the word “downstat.” (Later we’ll pull together the paragraphs he cited.) So now Christina B defines downstat and upstat for the court.

Her example of upstat is “Someone like Danny Masterson, on a TV show, who’s famous, making a lot of money, putting out good PR for the church.”

And Scientology appreciates that? It’s very important to them.

Mueller then goes over another paragraph that talks about not reporting Scientologists to police, and Christina B says she remembers reading it as part of her ethics program.

Judge: The ethics program that you did right after the December incident? Yes. (Damn, this judge is so on top of the details.)

The gist of the citations from the book: Justice cannot be trusted in the hands of man.

What impact did this have on you? I didn’t trust law enforcement.

OK, now the best moment so far. Mueller now walks over to Mesereau, hands him the book and says, “Thank you. It’s been very helpful.”

Oh, the burn. The burn.

But he’s not done. Mueller also pulls out a 1965 HCOPL (the one we quoted yesterday) and asks Christina B if she’s gone through it before. Yes. It’s titled Suppressive Acts.

He quotes the section we showed you yesterday, about how you can’t report a Scientologist. And about the particular language of it? If I reported Danny, I would stop him from being a Scientologist and going up the Bridge to eternal freedom. That’s why I went to Ethics, to help him. You cannot report a Scientologist to law enforcement. You just cannot.

There are consequences? Yes. He has her explain how committing a suppressive act would cause her to be declared.

No further questions.

Re-cross.

Mesereau: Did you read this document (the 1965 HCOPL) last night? No. I’ve read everything. I read them many, many times.

Mesereau tells her that the quote actually means that a Scientologist can’t report someone frivolously, and Christina B disagrees. She says you have to get permission from the IJC first.

I don’t know any Scientologist who has reported another Scientologist to the police. You don’t do that. You use the church’s justice, she says.

Yesterday you looked at the chapter that defines suppressive acts. Nowhere did you see a statement. Miranda Skoggins explained it to me.

You were taught not to do it without justification? Yes.

No further questions. Re-re-direct.

Who decides if it’s justified? An ethics officer. In fact, the ethics officer told you this wasn’t rape, and that you had pulled it in? Correct. The ethics officer told you that if you report this, there would be consequences? Yes.

No further question. Re-re-cross.

Mesereau: Did Miranda talk to Danny? She did not.

You knew that the Church of Scientology talked to Danny, don’t you? I did not. I finished up my ethics program and asked him if he was going to go in. He said no because he was prospering and flourishing.

Scientology never talked to him about it? They never did.

Then we took the morning break, and your proprietor was served a subpoena. It was from Tom Mesereau, asking us for a bunch of documents and scheduled for a hearing in June. We have talked to two attorneys who both tell us they will help us craft a response to quash the subpoena and assert a reporter’s privilege.

But gosh, it’s nice to know that Tom cares.

Anyway, back from the break, this is how it went…

Sharon Appelbaum, Mesereau’s co-counsel, told the judge that at the break they had also attempted to serve a subpoena on Christina B, but someone identifying themselves as her attorney had snatched it out of the process server’s hands. Mueller thought he knew who this was, and would work it out with the judge.

OK, now Jane Doe 2 took the stand.

She identified Danny Masterson. How did you know him? I was in the same religious organization as he was. And through the Celebrity Centre. There were different cliques of friends. And this organization was? Scientology.

How did you get into Scientology? She was 16, and her mother, who is no longer in it, wanted her to benefit from it. Are you still in Scientology? No. When did you leave? I left toward the end of 2004/2005. It was a progressive exit.

Now taking her to the period near the end of 2003. She was living a few blocks from Danny in a place with Ilaria Urbinati. Ilaria had taken Jane Doe 2 out with her friends, Danny Masterson and Luke Watson, to a bar called The Well on Argyle.

While they were drinking, Jane Doe 2 noticed that “Danny was watching me in a very preditorial way.”

Before that time, had you seen or met Danny before? Yes. At different parties and gatherings. It was very innocuous.

But it was different at the bar? Yes. He was staring at me very aggressively. Ilaria and Luke both noticed it. How did you feel? A combination of flattered and intimidated.

Did Masterson approach you? He said give me your number. Did you? Yes.

A couple of nights later he was texting me a lot, all at once. He was commanding me: Come over to his residence, bring a bathing suit. I was to get into his pool.

What were you thinking? A couple of things. I didn’t understand why he was commanding me. I didn’t understand why he was so aggressive. ‘You’re coming over now.’ I didn’t understand why he didn’t ask me out on a date.

Had you been to his house before? I’m not sure. There were a lot of Scientology parties, and I might have been there at one point. But never over there on an invite from him.

More texting: I was trying to hold my own. No, I’m not going swimming. You can ask me out on a date. I didn’t understand the pressure. I thought he was joking, it was so bizarre. I thought this was his way of flirting.

Did you agree to go? Yes, on conditions. I wasn’t going to get in the water. I’m not bringing a bathing suit. We can have one drink and talk and that’s all.

Did you walk or drive? I’m not sure. I think I walked. He greeted me at the door and I came in and went to this living room where there was this chaise, and I sat down. He immediately handed me a glass of red wine.

Was that the first thing you’d had to drink that night? I had a little before I went to calm myself down. How much did you drink? I felt a little calm, not drunk.

I asked him if he wanted to give me a tour of the house. The home was so beautiful, do you want to show me around?

Did he give you a tour? No.

What was your expectation? It was to talk, maybe flirt. Something very minimal. Maybe something in the realm of romance. Something very mild.

Were you expecting to be intimate? A kiss or something. I wanted to have my boundaries taken seriously.

The wine started to hit. He was continuing to be very serious and commanding. Come to the backyard. Come to the jacuzzi. He commanded me to go in. Take off your clothes right now. Take them off. If you don’t do it, I’m going to do it. I’m going to strip you right here.

And how did you react? I was nervous and I was afraid of violence. I was giggling and saying no. But he said, you’re going in.

At the jacuzzi is when everything started to disappear.

Did you take your clothes off? Some clothes came off but not all. I had on a pale pink camesole, underwear, and I guess a bra.

Did you get into the jacuzzi? I think so. I can’t totally recall it. That part is blurry. How long were you in? No idea. Did Danny get in? I think so.

What do you remember? Making out, kissing and stuff. A lot of making out but I was out of it. Were you OK with making out? Not really. I had not wanted to get into the water at all.

The next thing I remember is him ordering me to go upstairs to the shower.

He was like a drill sergeant. Go upstairs, get your clothes off and get in the shower, now. I obeyed him, because I was scared of him. Because he was so domineering and commanding. I said OK and I went up there. I was really out of it.

Upstairs: Danny, what are we doing. Why are we doing this. I was very confused. I was trying to reject it without arousing his defenses or violence.

Did you end up in the shower? Yes. I don’t remember perfectly, but we ended up there. In the shower, clothes off? I don’t remember. It’s hard to remember. I had the feeling of drunkenness and the feeling of not being fully present. In the shower, was Danny in with you? Yes. Was he clothed? He might have had some shorts on.

What happened next. We were kissing and I was trying to control the kissing because it was getting heavy. Then he put his hand down to my groin. I think he put his fingers in, but I don’t remember it perfectly. Real fast then he put his penis inside me. What are you doing! I had told him no sex, no intercourse. Get out! I told you not to do that.

Mueller makes sure we understand: This was his penis in her vagina.

And after you complained? He didn’t care. He stopped for a second. I had told him no sex, no intercourse before the shower. What are you doing? You don’t have a condom on.

Then Danny said, go get into my bedroom. Did you? Yes. What happened? We were making out on the bed. And I pleaded with him and said, OK, Danny, we cannot have sex. No intercourse. How did he respond? He wasn’t acknowledging me very directly. The kissing was getting more heavy and I was more out of it. He was fingering me and saying, ‘Look at your face, look at how your face is.’

I think I remember oral copulation but it’s very blurry. This is too much, Danny. We have to stop now.

Then they were making out again. Then Danny said, “OK, that’s it.”

Then he flipped me over and he just started pounding me like a jackhammer from behind.

I was crying. How were you situated? On my hands and knees. He penetrated me. It surprised me. Danny! What are you doing, I told you no. No condom. At least put on a condom.

He was penetrating your vagina with his penis? Yes. Did the position change? I don’t know. It hurt. The pounding was so bad I started to vomit in my mouth. I swallowed it because I didn’t want it to get on his bed.

He flipped me over on my back, and was hard fucking. Then flipped back. His penis was in your vagina. Was it ever in your anus? No. After another flip, then what happened. I don’t remember.

How did you feel physically? He ravaged me like I was a rag doll. Very rough sex but I don’t like to call it sex. And emotionally? Confused. How did it end? Into the wee hours. We talked on his bed and we went outside. But before the talking, he came on me, on my stomach. Then he got a wet hot towel to wipe the come off me, like he was pretending to be a gentleman for a minute.

We talked for a couple of hours. About what? I tried to recreate the night in my mind as something that wasn’t violent. Any more physical contact that night? Not that I recall.

Danny said: You’re going to want to leave because Brie Shaffer is coming soon and you don’t want that. So Jane Doe 2 left.

While they were talking, a couple of times Danny said, “I just got a 2D sec check.” Jane Doe 2 explains 2D (in Scientology the second dynamic, love, romance, family) and a sec check as a confessional security check.

He explained that he’d had the confessional because he’d been having crazy sex. Threesomes in Hawaii, hot girls. But now he was completely cured because of his 2D Sec Check. “He started talking about Mila Kunis and how pretty she is.”

He told me I was such a passionate person and I responded ‘So are you, look at all you have accomplished, your beautiful home.’ And he said ‘No i’m not, not like you.’ I was under the impression that he doesn’t feel much. (Objection by Mesereau, stricken from the record.)

Did you have contact with him after that? Four times.

1st time: I thought he would call me. I was waiting for him to justify what had happened. So I called him about a week later. I thought you would call me after all that. No, I’m busy. The call lasted about two minutes.

2nd time: I was drunk at a party and I called him. I was thinking about this good looking actor I liked. Why don’t you set me up with him after all you put me through? No, and he hung up.

3rd time: Working a job for a man who did vintage resale and antique resale. He worked with collectors of paintings. Called Danny, are you interested? He said no.

4th time: I went to an event Space 1520 on Sunset. Danny was there, looking at me. This was 2008. Hi, how are you. He didn’t even respond. Death stare. How is Ilaria? Fine.

Who was the first person you told about the rape? My mom or Jordan Ladd. Probably my mother, but not a full description. Mom, I was with Danny. How did it go? Very bad. Really aggressive and it hurt.

When did you talk to Jordan Ladd? Very close in time. Within a week or two. She was my best friend. How did she react? I described it to her and that I said no. he was very careful. She understood that I was a Scientologist (she wasn’t) and if she said something against Scientology, it could cause a rift in our relationship.

Did you ever tell the church? No. Why? I knew that I would be in trouble.

Oops, out of time. Going back in for the afternoon session.

Back to Mueller finishing up his direct examination of Jane Doe 2. He was asking her about why she didn’t report to Scientology.

If you have a legal issue with another member, you cannot handle it externally, she said. I know because of Danny’s position in the church, he’s a celebrity, no one would believe me and I’d be in trouble.

No further questions.

Cross-examination of Jane Doe 2.

Mesereau: Before you went over to Danny’s did you expect to take your clothes off when you got there? No. Danny told you you’re coming over now, you’re getting in the jacuzzi? Yes. Via text.

So you went to his house knowing you were going to take off your clothes? No. Why did you walk over? Because I put conditions on it.

How did you put the conditions on it? By text. Do you have those texts? No. Do you have any text messages? I do not have a phone from 20 years ago, no.

Did you walk over? I think I walked. I know I walked home.

You had some alcohol to drink before you went over. How much? Just enough to take the edge off from being nervous. What was it? Likely wine or vodka. Were you on medication then? No. Are you on medication now? Yes. Xanax, 1 milligram. Has it affected your mood? I’m not having an anxiety attack so that’s good.

When you got there did you have more alcohol? A glass of red wine. Just one? I don’t remember. What time was it? Evening. It was a wintry time. Don’t remember the time.

You said that Danny looked at you in a predatory way? Correct When? A couple of nights before. Danny Masterson was looking at you in a predatory way. What do you mean?

His gaze, the energy of it, was focused and aggressive. Was it scary? Intimidating.

He was scary and intimidating but you still walked to his house? I was confused by the gaze. I have an anxiety disorder so it was confusing if it was flirting or predatory. It felt like he was very interested in me but in an intimidating way.

And so you went anyway. I imposed some conditions. I will come over, but I’m not getting in the jacuzzi, not bringing a bathing suit.

He told you that you would be taking your clothes off. He did not make it clear I was getting naked. I assumed he meant taking clothes off to put on a bathing suit.

And this was a few days after he looked at you in a predatory way? Yes.

It’s pretty obvious that Mesereau has less to work with here and it has him a little agitated. But perhaps that’s just our perception. He now turns to a police report Jane Doe 2 made in 2017, and she objects to the way he characterizes how it quotes her.

After he said get over here now, you’re taking off your clothes, get over here, you walked to his house. I gave conditions but yes.

You went over to Danny’s house knowing full well you were going to take your clothes off. No.

Did you expect him to want you to take your clothes off? Yes. Were you nervous? Yes. I have an anxiety disorder. A lot of people make me nervous. I went over to his house after setting conditions.

Did you ask him what his plans were? I didn’t ask while he was commanding me. In Scientology there’s a Tone Scale they teach you. One of the higher is Tone 40 commands. They train you, when someone does that you should respect it.

I was trying to hold my own.

You said you didn’t want to upset him. Yes. He asked you to take your clothes off. Yes. I was resisting. I remember he was commanding me to take my clothes off. I didn’t want things to get violent. Things were getting fuzzy. I have images of being in the jacuzzi. Nothing is really crisp around that.

Sometimes you remember being in the jacuzzi, sometimes you don’t. Did you tell the LAPD that didn’t remember walking up the stairs to the landing? It’s been 4 years since I gave the LAPD the interview. Some things have come back. In the LAPD interview you didn’t remember walking to the shower. Today you do? Yes. For four years I’ve had to revisit it and things come back.

When you spoke to the LAPD were you telling the truth? Yes.

Have you read any documents to prepare for today? I looked at an email to Leah Remini to remember when I had gone to the police to report.

Have you talked to anyone about what you were going to testify to today? I met with Mr. Mueller and Arielle. I listened to a tape of my interview. Did you read police reports? No.

Did Mueller ask you any questions about the interview? No. Did you tell them about it? I may have told them some things, but they were nothing important.

I didn’t really need to listen to it, to tell you the truth.

You don’t remember him taking your clothes off? I remember him saying take your clothes off.

LUNCH BREAK

Cross continues.

Did you ever date Danny Masterson? No. Did you have sex with him before? No. Ever see him afterwards? Yes. (She repeats the Space 1520 encounter.)

Did you talk to him? She repeats the three conversations she related earlier.

Never had sex with him again? Correct.

How did you get into the shower with him? He had told me to go up to his bathroom. He was behind me. He turned on the water. He was in it. This part is quite blurry for me.

You don’t remember how you got upstairs? I don’t recall exactly.

You assumed you walked up the stairs with Danny? Yes. Do you remember whose idea it was to get in the shower? It was Danny’s. Do you recall saying it was your idea? I don’t recall.

Mesereau cites the LAPD interview which has her saying that she didn’t remember how they got into the shower, or if it was Danny’s idea or hers.

You don’t know whose idea it was? Yes, I do. It was his idea. (She’s defending herself against his accusatory tone. Earlier she had told the LAPD that it could have been her idea, but now she’s sure it was his idea.)

Do you remember kissing him? I remember him kissing me. Were you kissing him? I was responding to being kissed. You kissed him. I kissed him back.

You said he fingered you. I don’t remember that part well. You told Mueller, ‘I think he fingered me, I don’t know.’ When you told Mr. Mueller ‘we were just doing stuff,’ what did that mean? Touching, kissing. You told Mr. Mueller you were getting into it. I’m saying I was out of it, and I was going with the flow. I meant that I was going along with it.

You wanted Danny Masterson to continue fingering you, didn’t you? No, I didn’t. I was trying my best to manage a situation the best I could. I’m saying no and he’s not listening. I was doing the best I could without it becoming violent.

Did you have sex? I responded to being raped. Did being raped include being fingered? If I was saying no. But you got into it, right?

At this point the judge objects.

I was trying to recharacterize what was happening because it was so awful.

At this point Jane Doe 2 asks for a short break. After a few minutes, we start up again.

At one point because Danny Masterson wasn’t hitting you, you let him finish? I was afraid it would be violent. I didn’t want it to be violent.

He wasn’t violent with you. Yes he was violent. When he flipped me over and started pounding me. He wasn’t choking you? No. You didn’t physically resist him at all, did you? I didn’t push him off, but I was making it so he wouldn’t be violent. The best I could do was just say no.

Did you tell the LAPD and Mueller that the fingering was consensual? If by saying no repeatedly, that counts as consensual.

You were not afraid that Danny Masterson would hit or hurt you? Yes I was.

Did you tell Detective Reyes and Mueller when they asked if you were afraid he would hurt you, you said no. If I said that I misspoke because I was afraid he would be violent. I don’t know why I said no then. The best I can explain is that when they were asking me those questions, I was trying to remember so many things. For the most part I didn’t want things to be violent. I maybe didn’t understand what she was asking me.

He didn’t hit you? No. He didn’t choke you? No. He didn’t make you think he would hurt you? Not true. Did you lie to the police? I may have misspoke, but I wouldn’t lie.

Did Danny ask you never to speak about it? No, he never did.

You stayed up to 4 am talking in a romantic way on his balcony. After that rape we did communicate on the balcony, yes. I left about 5 am. You walked home? I did. How far was it? A few blocks.

Talking with him, you thought it was the start of a dating relationship with Danny Masterson? The trauma of it, it’s very common for rape victims to recategorize it as something softer.

Mesereau objects to this as non-responsive and moves to strike it. But he’s overruled.

You thought it would be the start of a dating relationship. I wanted to believe it wasn’t rape.

You told Reyes and Mueller this could end up dating. I guess so, yes.

Mesereau says he then wants to explore what has changed in her perceptions in the last four years, but Judge Olmedo says this seems like an area that relates to therapy, and we’re not getting into her therapy.

You thought the two of you would fall in love? No, I was hoping I hadn’t been through the horror and I was trying to recategorize it.

You were going to be in love and date. I was so upset, I was trying to reframe the event as possibly romantic.

When you got home you were expecting he’d call you? Yes. And ask you out for a date? What happened was so horrific, I thought maybe there was a reason for it. Maybe I misunderstood what happened.

You waited for him to call? Yes. You wanted to date him? I wanted to reframe what had happene and have it mean something different. You called him. Yes. You didn’t challenge him? No, I said I thought you were going to call. He was busy? Yes. That angered you? No

Did you call the police? No. Did you tell the church? No. Why? Danny Masterson was considered an important person in the church, an OL (opinion leader). I knew that certain people, celebrities, are to be protected and have a lot of power.

(We’re moving downstairs. More updates in a minute.)

Danny’s status offered more to the church. I felt that it could culminate in a declare for me eventually. If I reported it, it would result in an ethics handling, I’d be interrogated as a victim of a crime. It can lead to being declared. And I thought I would be ostracized. I thought Danny would come after me.

So you wanted to report him at the same time that you wanted to date him? Jane Doe 2 explains that any thought of dating him was very brief and wasn’t related.

You left Scientology about two years later? Yes. And you still didn’t report it to police? No.

Did you ever tell anyone that you were dating Danny Masterson? No.

Do you know Michele Miskovich? Yeah! Jane Doe 2 says with a big laugh. Who is she? A person who pretended to be my friend. A Scientologist? Yes. She wanted to be with Danny. Did you tell Michele Miskovich that Danny was a poor lover? The best I could explain that, I would have said he was bad in bed and fucked like a jackhammer.

Your roommate Ilaria (Urbaniti), did you tell her Danny raped you? No, she’s a Scientologist.

In the weeks after, who did you tell you were raped? My mother. Jordan Ladd. Rachel Smith.

Did you use the word rape with Jordan? No. With Rachel? No.

You didn’t think it was rape until 2011. I was more certain than I was before. Did you tell someone that you didn’t think it was rape until you read a New Yorker article in 2011? What about that article changed your mind? When you are in Scientology, the hold it has over you is remarkable. There’s a fear, partly subconscious, of disagreeing with what you’ve been told. Also a policy that you can’t read Black PR. It took quite a long time to disabuse myself of what I’d been taught in it. In order to function in Scientology you’re upholding a set of beliefs that are pillared up in you. I did my best to stay within a set of internal allegiances. When I read that article, when I saw what the defector said, my brain was firing about the differences between reality and what I’d been taught. Walls were coming down. Holy cow, holy cow. I didn’t want to deal with how I’d been treated before that.

(During this remarkable and lengthy explanation by Jane Doe 2, Mesereau tried to cut it short. But Judge Olmedo pointed out that by asking such an open-ended question — what about the article changed your mind — he had pretty much opened the door.)

Did the article mention Danny Masterson? No. Before you read that article you hadn’t attended Scientology services for years. No, but I was still careful about what I read online.

Are you currently suing Danny Masterson? Yes. You’re suing him for money. We are suing the Church of Scientology and Danny Masterson for stalking and harassment.

(After reviewing that Jane Doe 1 and Christina B. are plaintiffs with her) The LAPD asked you not to communicate with each other? Which they had no right to do, she answered defiantly.

And you told them that? Correct.

Did you talk to Brie Shaffer about Danny in 2011? I told her that he raped me. Did you tell Mariah O’Brien? Yes, in 2014. Binki Shapiro? With Mariah. Heather Cotton? I don’t know anyone by that name.

Did you tell the LAPD that you were afraid of Christina B? Yes. Were you ever pressured by Christina B to say anything? No. Did Mike Rinder ever pressure you? No. Leah Remini? No. Did you give an interview to Leah Remini? Yes. Did you talk about Danny Masterson? Yes. About the rape? Yes. Who interviewed you for that? Mike Rinder and Leah Remini, one time.

You gave an interview to the LAPD, you said you drank a beverage at Danny Masterson’s house and the next thing you remember was his having sex with you. (She disagrees, and Mesereau brings up a document to show her.) That’s someone else’s egregious summation. Unbelievably missing details. It’s a truncated version of what I said.

Do you have a problem with Detective Reyes? Yes, I do. What is it? (Irrelevant, sustained.)

Had you ever had sex with Danny Masterson before? No. Do you remember telling the LAPD that you both consensually engaged in kissing and digital penetration? Possibly.

You told the LAPD the digital penetration was consensual. I didn’t feel that it was consensual. The main thing was to prevent sex, but OK if you’re doing that.

No further questions.

Mueller begins a brief re-direct.

You didn’t make a report to the church. Because I felt sufficiently intimidated about the repercussions of reporting someone more important than me.

And the civil suit, you’re alleging harassment? Absoulutely.

No further questions.

The people rest.

The defense is not going to call any witnesses.

Argument from the two sides will begin at 10:30 tomorrow morning.

See you then!

 
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Source Code

“It’s my belief that in a good society every child ought to be equipped with and taught to fire a sawed-off shotgun.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 20, 1952

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“BIG LEAGUE: A lot of SO people do not realize that we play in the Big League. It’s not from choice. We are apparently considered a prime threat to those who run things from behind the scenes. A new estimate based on new data of the money spent to knock us out is at least 20 million pounds. Your concept of security and concept of snap and pop on operations and actions should be scaled upward to match the Big League. We are so tiny in numbers we have to make up for it in brilliance and efficiency. No other group on the planet gets the simultaneous international attention that we do. We cave in the pressure against us by highly effective operation of orgs and ships. And it is gradually giving ground. We will win in 3 years IF we play it with Security, brilliance and efficiency on all our parts.” — The Commodore, May 20, 1970

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Einstein in his theory of relativity made a prediction in the early 20th century that there exist gravitational waves. It wasn’t until 2016 that those waves were detected. Similarly, Scientology makes a theory, makes predictions and gets validated when those predictions are found. No need for doctors, university scholars or peer review publications agreeing or not on it.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1997: Steve Fishman posted this week what he believes to be the New OT 9 processing level. “I have made further discoveries concerning Incident I, and events preceding it. These events can only be realized by an exteriorized thetan; one free of the traps and limiting influences of the GE-line implant; even one genetically unaltered by the ever-meddling Marcabians. And yet, one cannot exteriorize until the events have been audited. It is a vicious circle, but one I have been able to penetrate now that I have fully exteriorized, and I can tell you these things in a way that will enable you to do the necessary rundowns. It has been a difficult task, but worthwhile knowing that it will enable you to complete the path you set out on, and that it will facilitate my return in time to prevent the second Marcabian invasion.”

 
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Random Howdy

“If you want some major lulz, google ‘David Icke forum Scientology’ and get ready to read the 12-foot shape-shifting reptilian fanboys make fun of the immortal super powered Thetans. it’s a hoot.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Preliminary hearing set for May 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for June 18.

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. June 7: 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.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.

Concluded litigation:
— 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] Leah Remini to Jane Doe after dismissing suit against Scientology: ‘You let no one down’
[TWO years ago] A paradox of apathy and zealotry: What props up Scientology, from within and without
[THREE years ago] Russia’s ineffective Scientology crackdown includes smearing foreign leaders
[FOUR years ago] Scientology forks over phone numbers to federal judge, who puts his foot down again
[FIVE years ago] Scientology gets judge disqualified in forced-abortion lawsuit and wants recent order voided
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s wealthy donors play royalty in Italy while Paulette Cooper takes San Diego
[SEVEN years ago] Marc Headley returns to Scientology and finds a whole new ballgame
[EIGHT years ago] Your Hot Scientology Event in Los Angeles Tonight
[NINE years ago] Ursula Caberta on Scientology: ‘You Have to Be Always Watching Them’

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 20, 2021 at 07:00

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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, 1995-2020 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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