TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Over the years, we can’t count how many times we’ve been asked questions about ‘Christian Science’ by people mistaking it for ‘Church of Scientology.’ And if we hear it, imagine how often Scientology has to deal with it! ALSO: More Scientology classified ads! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“To paraphrase an old quote, we used to have iron men and wooden ships. We now have a drug society and wooden citizens. I’ve been studying this for over a year and a half and have made the breakthrough. Drug companies would be advised to do better research.” — 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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“Every physicist, every single physicist, including Newton, and all the rest of the boys, have fallen flat on their faces by not establishing the basic conditions of what they were dealing with. They have started from an unreasonable assumption. They’ve assumed that somebody knew what space was, and have gone on from there. And they’ve decided that somebody knew what a static was, and they’ve gone on from there. And of course they’d wind us up in trouble sooner or later with a thing like an atom bomb. Naturally, they’d wind us up in trouble because they didn’t know where they were proceeding. This is not an indictment, you understand, of science at large. It’s just hoping it will perish soon. Because if this is the scientific method, to start with unreasonable assumptions and never discover what your definitions are before you proceed into a problem, then we want nothing to do with a scientific method. And you actually are then not following the scientific method, because that is the scientific method. You’re really not dealing, then, in the field of science if the field of science is what we have had in psychology and physics. Because then we are not dealing with this. Because we do this, and there are a new set of principles established here. And the only thing you could call them, I guess, would be a Scientological method, as unhandy as Scientology becomes when you start to add suffixes to it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 4, 1954
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“HARD WORK: Diana, in readying up the CS-6 post so she could leave, worked 72 hours straight through and then boarded the plane. It is not fully known that, with Franchise and Celebrity Centres, Diana handles many more orgs herself than the whole FB. Blackburn Smith is standing in as her deputy during her three week absence. Due to the jumbled state my photo gear was allowed to get into I couldn’t find a camera to give her but fixed it so she could buy one and thus bring back pictures of her travels. I think this is her first vacation in four years in the SO.” — The Commodore, May 4, 1971
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“Weird little wins with new found abilities. Today I wondered what it felt like to be a cloud, so I did.”
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2000: A synopsis of Flag Land Base News was posted to a.r.s this week. “On Friday, March 17th, thousands poured into Ruth Eckerd hall. The gift LRH always wanted most for his birthday is the expansion of Scientology. It became clear that we are expanding faster than ever before, and this IS the Scientology Millennium. COB with moving tributes to LRH included scores of examples of how LRH social reform technology is impacting society and countless lives in places as diverse as the Dominican Republic, where LRH study is being implemented in schools. to reforms in criminal rehabilitation in Mexico, implementation of LRH admin tech in Africa and much more. Mr Marc Yager [announced] expansion statistics, which included 43 new missions being opened since the beginning of the year. CoB RTC announced that the Tokyo Org had achieved the size of old Saint Hill. Recognizing that a group of OT’s is invincible and necessary to really clear this planet, many Flag OT’s have decided to do the sensible thing – join the Sea Org and forward the boom! ‘Since the Golden Age of Tech for OT, the statistics at the Flag Advanced Org have been soaring in the only direction you’d expect statistics from an OT org to go – UP!”
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“People keep calling for the government to do something about Scientology. I just hope none of those people are the same people calling for a lot less government, because that would be kind of hypocritical, don’t you think? And I’ll leave it at that.”
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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] What Marc Headley’s ‘Blown for Good’ says about Scientology ‘expert’ Hugh Martin Whitt
[TWO years ago] Danny Masterson’s rape prosecutors tell Calif. Supremes why his Scientology argument is weak
[THREE years ago] Scientology is back! Fundraising back on to turn the entire country ‘Ideal,’ praise Xenu!
[FOUR years ago] Danny Masterson: Drop me from Scientology lawsuit if the ‘Jane Does’ won’t name themselves
[FIVE years ago] Scientology measles ship back in Curaçao, which talks tough about quarantine
[SIX years ago] Federal judge smacks down Scientology’s shameless attempt to delay forced-abortion case
[SEVEN years ago] Forced abortions, beatings, and sleep deprivation: The FBI on Scientology’s Sea Org
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology confirms it won’t oppose Monique Rathbun’s plans to ditch lawsuit
[NINE years ago] More from a secretly-recorded executive griping about Scientology’s sad state of affairs
[TEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology says, May the Fourth be with you
[ELEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY TO CALIFORNIA SUPREMES: State’s Priest-Penitent Law is Unconstitutional
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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 2,890 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,385 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,900 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,450 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,440 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,321 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,625 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,496 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,048 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,389 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,956 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,875 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,043 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,624 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,885 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,921 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,637 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,201 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,516 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,691 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,242 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,373 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,711 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,564 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,685 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,041 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,344 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,450 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,848 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,724 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,289 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,802 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,056 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,164 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 4, 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
