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When Scientology sent out its baddie to ‘handle’ the Lisa McPherson protests

[The protest, memorialized at Jeff Jacobsen’s Lisa McPherson website]

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Some new photos have surfaced that document one of Scientology’s darkest scandals and how it handled public criticism. And wait till you see who shows up in them! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

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“In the Interiorization Rundown, when Flow Zero is run one is running a lie. A static cannot go into itself. It can only appear to go into itself by calling other things ‘self.’ Further, in the Int RD some pcs get into an implant chain when they try to run F0 and the TA goes up. In getting in the fourth flow by rerun of singles and triples (was called Quading for Quadruple or 4) a pc is sometimes made to run a chain twice and this will send the TA up. Therefore, so as to simplify matters, do not run Flow Zero self to self on any rundown except 37R.” — 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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Source Code

“I took a hard-boiled, hardheaded, sonic shut-off, somatic shut-off, reality shut-off case and had him pretend he was dead, in the hope that he would swing into the dead person in whose valence he was, and then he could tell us all about the funeral. So I said, ‘Go to the time when you were dead.’ So he obligingly went to 1797 in Sicily, when he was in a farmhouse dying. He died with full somatics. I thought this was very interesting, so I brought him up to present time and thought about it a little more, and took another case….We are discovering incidents back there. I never investigated them before, although I probably should have. We don’t currently know much about them except that people feel better when they are run. This is not part of the standard technique of Dianetics at present although I have known this material was there for some time.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 22, 1950

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“NOTICE: Any FEBC student who arrived here before April 20th is overdue for completion. Your Orgs need you; therefore, you should do everything in your power to complete all your outstanding cycles quickly and thoroughly so that you can be fired. As per HCO PL of Feb 22, 1968, ‘The secret of any executive success is the ability to COMPLETE cycles of action QUICKLY.’” — Mary Sue Hubbard, Controller, July 22, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Never in history have I seen a religion so attacked and so maligned as Scientology, and mainly by its own ex-members and especially by its ex-executives. Look at all the people writing — for years and years — about how bad Scientology is. Well, they aren’t nuts per definition, they just have overts and especially missed withholds.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1995: Canada’s Supreme Court this week upheld the libel award against Scientology, as posted in a.r.s this week from a Reuters article. “Canada’s Supreme Court Thursday upheld a million-dollar libel award against the Church of Scientology in a case that saw writers and news organizations siding with the church. Casey Hill, a former Ontario prosecutor, sued the Church of Scientology for accusing him of acting improperly in connection with a raid on church offices in Toronto in 1983. Journalists, writers and newspaper groups pressing for free speech had backed the church in arguing for laxer rules on defamation, but the court upheld the $1.6 million Canadian ($1.2 million U.S.) award in favor of Hill. It is believed to be the largest libel award ever made in Canada.”

 
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Random Howdy

“My opinion is that the ‘true believer’ type personality is as much, if not more, the reason why some people end up in cults, than the ‘mind control’ explanation.”

 
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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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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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] PODCAST: ‘Oppenheimer’ and Scientology, with physicist Bruce Hines
[TWO years ago] Is Scientology key to solving a young woman’s disappearance? Police want to know.
[THREE years ago] Here’s our motion to quash the subpoena Danny Masterson’s attorney slapped us with
[FOUR years ago] Scientology is a special hell for the ‘staff’ who work at your local ‘org’
[FIVE years ago] Sudden change in Maiden Voyage events in Los Angeles a clue to Ideal Org problems?
[SIX years ago] A tale of two cities: Scientology courts pols and police in one place, acts sneaky in another
[SEVEN years ago] Janis Grady’s new book on life in Scientology: Jon Atack’s take, and an excerpt
[EIGHT years ago] Was it something we said? Scientology wants Cindy Plahuta’s letter in fraud lawsuit struck
[NINE years ago] How Scientology is Tom Cruise? How he put ethics ‘ruthlessly’ in on his own family
[TEN years ago] More trouble for Scientology fundraising and recruitment in Europe
[ELEVEN years ago] DISCONNECTION: A Double Dose of Scientology’s Toxic Use of “Leverage”

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 2,969 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,464 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,979 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,529 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,519 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,400 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,704 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,575 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,127 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,468 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,035 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,954 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,122 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,704 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,964 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,000 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,716 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,280 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,595 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,770 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,321 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,452 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,790 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,643 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,764 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,120 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,423 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,529 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,927 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,803 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,368 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,881 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,135 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,243 days.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 22, 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 

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