TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Valerie Ross continues her deeply personal series about her Scientology past, from spying on the FBI to, this time, serving as a test subject for L. Ron Hubbard’s quack ideas about drug detoxification. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Dianetics is the first development since the days of Rome that changes and improves the RATE OF HEALING. Dianetics is also the first development that removes traumatic barriers from the path of healing. Medicines and endocrine compounds quite often are effective in the presence of Dianetic auditing which were once inexplicably ineffective in many cases. The barrier to healing was the engram. With that removed, healing can occur.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1969
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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 [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“In the final analysis, everything is a postulate. Everything came about by postulates. We just could make postulates the end-all of everything, and we’re very safe on it. Everything rationalizes out very nicely. And postulates if treated as a topflight goal bring about a very, very fine condition on the part of the preclear. What are you trying to get him to do, in essence? Change his mind. He has a bad leg, he’s crippled; you won’t get that leg well unless he changes his mind about having to have a bad leg. Believe me, you won’t. The doctors can saw and hew and use axes and materia medica and Morris Fishbeins and everything else on him, and by George, his leg will not get well until he has made up his mind for his leg to get well.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 28, 1954
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“UK is in the mystic band. That’s the last stop this side of Hades, when an empire decides to go, Man. The basic law on this is: When dealing with unknown dangers over which he has no control and against which he has no defense, Man becomes mystic as to cause and effect. Reaching a population in that condition is quite a problem. It can be done, but only on the gradient of tiny cause and effect. By coaxing small reaches and giving very light effects it can be done.” — The Commodore, April 28, 1970
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“I’ve decided to leave the other Scientology groups I belong to or have been added into. What I’ve been observing and why I’m actively leaving those other groups is while this group has seemed to come together out of common interest for the betterment of ourselves and other members with Ron 2.0 at the head, and now seems to be forming a high-level group, those other groups are filled with snakes in the grass luring people in on a pretext in order to influence and actively put people off doing not just new processes but any form of auditing.”
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2001: From Wired News: “A California jury has convicted Keith Henson, a prominent critic of Scientology, of terrorizing the group
through Usenet posts and by picketing one of its offices. Henson, a computer engineer who has been involved in prior legal skirmishes with Scientology, was found guilty on Thursday of interfering with Scientologists’ civil rights and now faces a prison sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to $5,000. The charges revolved around posts Henson made in the alt.religion.scientology newsgroup about targeting a nuclear missile at Scientologists, and Henson’s picketing of the group’s Golden Era Productions in Riverside, California. The jury rejected Henson’s claim that he was exercising his First Amendment right to criticize a dangerous cult, and convicted him of interfering with a religion, one of three counts against him. Henson’s supporters have created a website, freehenson.tripod.com, to rally support for Henson during his legal battle. The site says that Scientology has a suspiciously close relationship with the prosecutor: ‘What kind of Alice-in-Wonderland Court is it that allows organized criminals to sit in the prosecutor’s chair bringing charges against the honest citizens, in which a heavily-armed cult has Mafia lawyers direct the activities of the District Attorney?’ Henson seems undeterred. ‘After court today, my wife Arel and I picketed outside the court with signs about the women killed out at the cult’s place last summer,’ he said in an e-mail. ‘We also gave away about 200 flyers about how Scientology is hurting people and breaking the law.’ Henson was convicted of violating a hate crimes statute, section 422.6 of the California Penal Code. It says: ‘No person, whether or not acting under color of law, shall by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, oppress or threaten any other person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege.'”
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“‘Malcolm In The Middle’ was so good I broke my rule for watching TV shows with Scientologists in them.”
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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. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing May 17, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, hearing on April 16.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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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] Defense opened the door to hacking allegations in Danny Masterson retrial
[TWO years ago] How a decaying landmark became Scientology’s legendary Hollywood Celebrity Centre
[THREE years ago] Two Scientologists win seats on Los Angeles neighborhood council
[FOUR years ago] Scientology admits that it numbers ‘tens of thousands’ not millions, as we’ve been saying
[FIVE years ago] Leah Remini and Mike Rinder dare Scientology defenders to go on camera
[SIX years ago] A new ex-Scientologist memoir provides a journey through extortion in the rank-and-file
[SEVEN years ago] With Scientology at war in Clearwater, religious studies types still seeking its warm & fuzzy side
[EIGHT years ago] MONIQUE RATHBUN BLAMES FORMER ATTORNEYS AS SHE PLANS TO DROP LAWSUIT
[NINE years ago] Secretly taped Scientology executive complains about cheating on the ‘Survival Rundown’
[TEN years ago] Chris Shelton on the origins of Scientology’s notorious ‘Fair Game’ policy
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Baby We’re Amazed!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 2,884 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,379 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,894 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,444 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,434 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,315 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,619 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,490 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,042 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,383 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,950 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,869 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,037 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,618 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,879 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,915 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,631 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,195 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,510 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,685 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,236 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,367 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,705 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,558 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,679 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,035 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,338 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,444 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,842 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,718 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,283 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,796 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,050 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,158 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 28, 2024 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
