TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We previously described a bizarre situation in Switzerland, where a Scientology mega-donor is in jail on accusations by the richest Scientologist donor of all, Trish Duggan. Yesterday we heard from Ivan Gaspari that he has now been charged formally and faces trial in 3 months. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Techniques have existed since 1952 that exteriorize a person. These are not now used because the person (a) still being aberrated and not Clear, soon returns to his body and (b) when audited thereafter has trouble. This is a major problem a thetan sometimes has at death. How to exteriorize? He makes it eventually of course but he should be able to do so at once. But, in my research, I found it unreasonable that a person would be hard to audit just because he had exteriorized and had reinteriorized. For he has obviously done just that at every death and birth and must have done so hundreds of billions of times. So why should a recent exteriorization then make him hard to audit?” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1971
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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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“You’d feel awfully strange if a robot clanked into the room, sat down in the auditing chair and began to pump your hand. As a matter of fact, you’d feel a little queasy. And in view of the fact that this has probably happened quite often on the track, that a robot walked in and started to dismantle you or something of the sort because you’d just had your doll body revoked, you react very badly to something that doesn’t communicate. You probably wouldn’t even object to the robot dismantling your doll body if he came in and said, ‘Well, I got an order here from the general council that you, having been guilty of mopery and dopery in high space, are herewith deprived of one doll body, and we’re going to take it apart and leave it on the bench for seventy-two hours.’ No, that’s what I used to do. This is a different one.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 27, 1961
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“I’ve just had a grand slam across the boards on C/S. With Belkacem auditing most, some by Dusty Rhodes and one by Otto, we really swept it up 100%. Two Very Well Dones and the rest Well Dones. And not easy C/Ses to do either. Boy can we get auditing done. Rest of you students better get going. You’ve got a lot to live up to with the standard now being set.” — The Commodore, June 27, 1969
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“You are a rabble rouser, a trouble maker, you were kicked out of the Church a very long time ago for that reason! That is why you left in the 70’s, your Tech is not even up to date and you never finished the Class VI course, that is why you don’t have a cert to show. You need a serious ethics handling because you have no qualms in lying.”
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1998: From Reuters on the Swedish court decision to keep the secret NOTS materials available at the Parliament. “U.S. officials said on Tuesday they disapproved of a Swedish court ruling which would allow the Church of Scientology’s holiest book into the hands of the public. U.S. economic counselor in Stockholm Anthony Holmes told Reuters: ‘We view the whole Scientology issue as a trade issue. We have not dealt with it as a political issue at all.’ Holmes added: ‘It’s clearly a violation of Sweden’s obligation to protect an unpublished copyrighted work. It’s a blot on Sweden’s reputation,’ he said. ‘The Freedom of the Press Act is like motherhood and apple pie in Sweden. We’re not challenging that. We’re saying this is a contradiction,’ Holmes said. A spokesman for Sweden’s foreign ministry said it was unlikely U.S.-Swedish relations would be hurt. ‘We believe our legislation is in compliance with international law. We have very good relations with the United States,’ said foreign ministry spokesman Jens Odlander.”
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“You ever get up in front of 6,000 people who want to murder your ass until you prove you’re worthy of their adulation and they are spitting and throwing bottles and everything else they can lay their hands on? Because I have on numerous occasions.”
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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] Report: LAPD covered up that Shelly Miscavige’s fingerprints didn’t match in 2013
[TWO years ago] After ‘Roe,’ can Scientology continue to force Sea Org women into unwanted abortions?
[THREE years ago] More minor Scientology celebrities making news, and not in a good way
[FOUR years ago] The private eye who started out working for Danny Masterson & now may testify against him
[FIVE years ago] Tommy Davis is tying the knot in Morocco, and we didn’t get an invite
[SIX years ago] In the Sea Org, no one can hear you scream: Another small slice of Scientology horror
[SEVEN years ago] REPORT: David Miscavige has not been to Scientology’s secretive ‘Int Base’ in four years
[EIGHT years ago] Leah Remini is shooting a TV series about Scientology
[NINE years ago] Did Scientology hire the man sent to prison for hacking us? Not his job to find out, judge said
[TEN years ago] Here’s a reminder of Scientology’s Cold War origins — L. Ron Hubbard on radiation!
[ELEVEN years ago] Judge Whittemore Sets Evidentiary Hearing in Garcia Federal Fraud Lawsuit
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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 2,944 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,439 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,954 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,504 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,494 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,375 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,679 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,550 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,102 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,443 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,010 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,929 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,097 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,678 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,939 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,975 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,691 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,255 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,570 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,745 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,296 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,427 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,765 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,618 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,739 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,095 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,398 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,504 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,902 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,778 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,343 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,856 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,110 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,218 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 27, 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
