On Sunday, we told you how we learned that an independent Scientologist (someone who practices L. Ron Hubbard’s ideas outside the Church of Scientology) is running for city council in Seattle.
Her name is Victoria Palmer, and a flier advertising her as a speaker at an indie Scientology convention this August described her as “Class IV, OT 3,” which means she’s a Class 4 auditor and an Operating Thetan Level 3, which implies a pretty extensive background in Hubbard’s “technology.”
But at her campaign website, we saw no mention of Scientology. Instead, there was a lot about her work as an activist against Covid-19 mask mandates in the state of Washington.
Well, now we’ve received a response from Palmer to our email, and we’re happy to post that response in its entirety here.
Hello Tony,
AdvertisementNice to hear from you. I’m familiar with your work — I’m glad you’re keeping the church honest.
Yes, I received great benefit from the practice of Scientology and these benefits were very helpful in defeating the COVID mandates in Washington state. Specifically, my abilities of being very literate and emotionally stable put me in great stead for the challenge I faced. My decision to run for City Council is an extension of my success in bringing freedom to the environment and I will use any connections or power I gain to continue to expose corruption and build a community based on the American principles we hold in common.
I’m sure you are well familiar with the various factors that have fractured the Free Zone both before I became independent, in 2010, and after. I do hope that the COVID mandates were a wake up call for those seeking freedom and that we can overcome our differences and work together going forward.
Sincerely,
Victoria
We really appreciate getting this response and we are grateful to Palmer for providing these details. It’s really a shame that so few have the fortitude to discuss this kind of thing, so we want to recognize that kind of gumption when it does show up.
So there you go, local Seattle press, you have a very interesting candidate running for office there. We hope you give her some attention.
Palmer is one of five challengers in Seattle’s District 6 going up against Democratic incumbent Dan Strauss, who is seeking a second term. At her website, Palmer indicated that she’s new to politics and doesn’t belong to any party.
Meanwhile, we’ve heard from a few readers who are sympathetic to Palmer’s ideas. Here’s a typical note we received…
Vicki’s peaceful protest demonstrations are not just about ‘mask mandates’. It’s about tyranny. The mandates, lockdowns, enforced jabs and all the rest of the ongoing abuses are actually illegal and inhumane fear tactics designed to take away our freedoms.
It’s the same reason we all left the church of Scientology, which is a microcosm of the macrocosmic assaults on our unalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
And here we’ll post the entire flier for the “Theta Alliance” convention that we spotted which made us aware that Palmer was running for office.
We love the detail that Rey Robles, the organizer, describes himself as “OT 9.”
In the Church of Scientology, it only goes up to OT 8 currently and no “OT 9” has been released.
So you can see that things are a bit looser in the Free Zone.
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Technology Cocktail
“Auditing is that process which restores confidence in confronting and undoes necessity to confront Thought, Time, Life, Energy, Matter and Space.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1958
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney
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“As you look back over the whole track, you’ll find that you’ve been going on a rolly-coaster. You’ve spent some time in a meat body and then the next thing you know, why, there you were, Operating Thetan, see. And then for a while, why, you’re pushing a doll body around or something like that and then boom: why, you’re Operating Thetan. And then you push a meat body around for a while, and then spend a few million or trillion years in a trap or something like that and then you come out the other end of it. And suddenly and mysteriously, why, there you are chucking planets around, or something like this, you see. This is all very difficult for a person to reconcile. And it’s ‘What am I doing? What am I doing?’ Being up, being down, being up, being down. There isn’t one of you who hasn’t been in meat bodies on the whole track many many times. Many times and places, you see. And, who didn’t succeed this action by being an OT, you see. Quite interesting.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 20, 1963
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“POSTULATE CHECKS: Postulate Checks turn out to be just a new way to get service without paying for it and ARC Breaking the field. We are looking for who started this off pol nonsense. The real boom was burst by it — but is coming along fine despite this interruption.” — The Commodore, June 20, 1971
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“The other day I imagined eating maccas pancakes and I thought I will get them today and ask for extra butter and syrup. Well, later that day I ordered the pancakes but forgot to ask for extra butter and syrup. When I went to open the bag it had an extra syrup in it. Now that’s never happened to me before. So is it just a coincidence that I got this extra syrup in me bag the same day I fantasized about eating pancakes with extra syrup? I really don’t think so. I’ve also had other similar things like that occur in my life. I’m telling ya we can create reality with our thoughts.”
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1996: The Cult Awareness Network (CAN) was forced to disband this week, as a result of the $1 million award against CAN in the Jason Scott case. Scott’s attorney was cult member Kendrick Moxon. Reuters reported: “A jury’s decision to award $1 million to a Kirkland man who had sued the Cult Awareness Network is forcing the non-profit group that monitors religious cults to shut down. The bankruptcy will force the network, based in Barrington, Ill., to liquidate its assets and shut down its telephone hot line, which takes an average of 20,000 calls a year.”
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“I wish you would comment more often.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for June 26 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs asking permission for interlocutory appeal.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through June 28.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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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 BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. 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] Paul Haggis arrested in Italy: More proof he’s a villain, or is Scientology behind it?
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s OT powers have survived the pandemic: Here are the miracles to prove it!
[THREE years ago] Scientologist chiro Jay Spina’s clinic killed a patient say feds asking for 10-year sentence
[FOUR years ago] HOWDYCON 2019 IS HERE — HOLLYWOOD IS CLEAR!
[FIVE years ago] Scientologists charged with Medi-Cal insurance fraud will stand trial on August 28
[SIX years ago] John Brousseau: Marty Rathbun is putting words in my mouth about the FBI’s Scientology probe
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology is holding this Kazakh 20-year-old prisoner, says her media-grabbing mom
[EIGHT years ago] RFK Jr’s anti-vax activism hits lowest spot ever — with Scientology and the Nation of Islam
[NINE years ago] Paul Haggis tells us his favorite Scientology stories of 2014
[TEN years ago] Dianetics Noir: Dangerous Women Hiding Their Womb-Secrets
[ELEVEN years ago] Debbie Cook — Exiled by Scientology?
[TWELVE years ago] Grant Cardone, NatGeo’s ‘Turnaround King’: Doing Scientology’s Dirty Work?
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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 3,066 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,571 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,121 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,111 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,002 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,306 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,177 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,282 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,729 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,071 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,637 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,556 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,723 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,305 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,566 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,602 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,318 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,882 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,197 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,372 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,923 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,054 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,392 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,247 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,366 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,722 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,025 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,131 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,529 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,405 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,988 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,483 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,737 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,846 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 20, 2023 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
