TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: What’s this, a new issue of Scientology’s Impact magazine is out? You know what means, sailors, it’s time for some whale watching! Get a look at the newest folks turning over huge piles of money for David Miscavige’s legal slush fund! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“have seen Mary Sue take over an HGC that had tons of unsolved cases and too few auditors and have watched her solve one case at a time and within 2 weeks have 35 auditors and no backlogs and in six weeks no unsolved cases! She was using the ‘old,’ ‘historical,’ ‘background,’ ‘we don’t use them anymore’ processes!” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1970
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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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“I notice now that there’s a lot of doubt and wonder about ethics and so on, here and there and so forth. What is ethics? I just heard one from Chicago, just before I came to the lecture and so forth. ‘Scientology is to help, not to punish people.’ How the hell would he know? He’s never been helped by it. He’d made a lot of dough with it, but he’s never had any tone arm action I’ve ever been able to find out. Suppressive. So we are developing, simply, systems by which to handle the public at large, is all we are doing. And right now it goes in with a thud against some staff members and so forth and students collide with it and that sort of thing. Good. Get used to it. Because the action is actually intended for the public, don’t you see? But until you have a familiarity with law and order amongst yourselves and some experience with how it works and what seems unjust and what seems just and that sort of thing, you never can grab ahold of it. Now, you can’t go nonchalantly knocking off the United States government or something like that without at least issuing an HCO suppressive order, you know?” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 8, 1965
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“SHIP CONDITION: If the ship’s company is ever to get out of Non E it will be by 1. Wearing ones own hat. 2. Insisting the other fellows wears his. I tried for 2 months to single hand the ship up in morale and efficiency. I got too many problems (bonus errors, FP flaps in return). Now you guys dig yourselves out and put it right. I didn’t assign the condition. The ship did.” — The Commodore, June 8, 1970
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“Please read or listen to LRH taped lecture ‘THE FREE BEING.’ In it LRH explains how OTs must work ORGANIZED. Otherwise the individualistic OTs will lose the war when facing super organized Meat bodies, entities and BTs (‘lesser beings,’ the taped lecture actual words). An OT Committee is organization, management.”
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2000: A transcript of John McLaughlin’s One on One TV show was posted to a.r.s this week, on the subject of religious discrimination and mentioning Scientology. “MR. MCLAUGHLIN: At the dawn of the 21st century, one of mankind’s age-old curses still afflicts us. It is religious intolerance. In China, Christians and so-called ‘cults’ are the targets of brutal government crack-downs. In the Sudan, antichristian riots have killed hundreds. In Russia, antisemitism is rearing its despicable head. SEN. BROWNBACK: The Religious Commission report on international
religious liberty and they’re putting forward three countries that they’re particularly citing that have some of the worst cases of religious abuse, such as in the Sudan and China, and one that we hold some of the most promise, but some of the problems are rearing their head, in Russia. MR. MCLAUGHLIN: And let’s move on to Scientology. It’s called a cult, which is kind of a dismissive word, which almost invites a certain amount of oppression, doesn’t it? To those who practice Scientology, a true faith. SEN. BROWNBACK: It is. And where I get concerned is, like the First Amendment, when you start cutting somebody’s speech out somewhere, I get concerned anywhere about it. What people choose to do with their own souls is their right, and it should be protected. MR. MCLAUGHLIN: You know, in Germany, the Scientologists take an extra-heavy hit. Why do the Germans find Scientology so obnoxious? MS. SHEA: They don’t consider it a religion, and I guess they feel threatened by it. And I don’t think governments, especially Germany, should be in the business of saying, you know, what’s a religion or not. And I find it very disconcerting.”
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“Tom Cruise is royalty and royalty can’t just marry whoever they like. They have obligations to king and subjects alike.”
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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 31, 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.
— 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, on hold until appeal over new judge heard.
— 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] Judge Olmedo’s ruling about the Scientology leak: The whole enchilada
[TWO years ago] Claim: Scientology is lying about who visited the most destruction on psychiatry in Russia
[THREE years ago] Ecclesiastical cardio: David Miscavige spotted jogging on the beach in Clearwater
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s obsession with City Councilman Mark Bunker is truly off the charts
[FIVE years ago] Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard on nuclear radiation: It’s a state of mind
[SIX years ago] Here’s proof that Scientology members have to be forced to watch Scientology TV
[SEVEN years ago] Federal judge urged to ignore Scientology whining and get on with arbitration disaster
[EIGHT years ago] More signs of the apocalypse for the Church of Scientology’s bitter-enders
[NINE years ago] Westward, Ho! Hey, Bunkerites, we need your help, and fast
[TEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Tom Cruise history lesson edition!
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack on Why It’s So Hard To Recover From Scientology
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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 2,925 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,420 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,935 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,485 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,475 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,356 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,660 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,531 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,083 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,424 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,991 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,910 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,078 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,659 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,920 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,956 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,672 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,236 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,551 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,726 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,277 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,408 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,746 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,599 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,720 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,076 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,379 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,485 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,883 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,759 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,324 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,837 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,091 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,199 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 8, 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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
