TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Every year, we celebrate the birthday of the woman who is the reason we started the Underground Bunker in the first place, to support our book about her, ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.’ Happy birthday, Paulette Cooper! ALSO: Scientology’s Paris Org looks dead as Olympics open [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“It has been stated before that the Case Supervisor is most successful when he supervises in seclusion. This is called the IVORY TOWER rule. It comes from the practical experience that in C/Sing thousands of cases the only few mistakes I made (and repaired) were when I listened to the opinion of the auditor or saw the pc. This can be quite fatal to a case’s progress.” — 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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“We’re trying to make somebody Clear. Clear of what? Clear of his reactive bank. Now, Freud said that man had an unconscious or a reconscious or something of the sort which was subconscious under the underconscious. He thought there was something there and it was inhabited by a beast known as the censor, who kept the fellows from pulling a social faux pas. And when the censor was asleep or nulled or something of the sort by drugs, why, the fellow would do antisocial acts, and that was the whole explanation of the human mind, except it was all caused by sex. I hope you’re following me closely. But anyhow, we are actually indebted to Papa Freud, because he did say out loud that there was some kind of a mind that was kicking back on somebody. He didn’t really discover the reactive mind; we did.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 26, 1966
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“SMERSH: Smersh just lost half of its suit on us. It was suing us for defamation of its character. The sum of the result will probably be the judge’s question ‘What character?’ Part of the evidence of the next part of the suit was a restricted issue of an Ed they stole out of an org! ‘What character?’ Charles Parselle is doing a great job on Legal in the UK. The Guardian’s Office is going at its usual TERRIFIC! over the world.” — The Commodore, July 26, 1971
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“The Internet is an excellent way to collect up identities and to offer such identities books and services. But going internationally, targeting new people to Scientology is an entirely different game. The Miscavige problem would have to be under control. The Church image, or rather Scientology image internationally speaking, has to be rehabilitated first and Scientology re-positioned in the public’s mind. A lot of PR work would have to be accomplished first on the media, and the church and Miscavige positioned as something entirely different than the original tenets of LRH. In other words, as not Scientology. Then the general public, at least 80 percent of them, would support the Independent Movement as something really representing greater freedom for the individual.”
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1999: Sindelfinger Zeitung reported that Scientology may have maintained a spying operation on a German government official. “A little sentence in the state Constitutional Security report of 1998 causes consternation: ‘Another written communication shows that a SO member took an interest in the personal environment of a minister president and forwarded his findings on to OSA Munich.’ It appears as if nobody noticed the explosiveness of a little passage in the 1998 Constitutional Security report. On Thursday it could be verified in the government circles that the minister president involved was Erwin Teufel (CDU), who took office at the beginning of 1991. The alleged ‘findings’ which were supposed show that a snooping Scientologist had gained access to Teufel’s personal environment are at least partially false. So false that the Constitutional Security agents really had to have known it. Yet the information was apparently not seriously checked out. There are two alternatives: either the state security agents have innocently been taken in by a con man or the feared Scientology secret service is not capable of performing intelligent research. However it may be, ‘The passage should not have ever appeared,’ scolded an official. After several crisis sessions, Rannacher gave an explanation for the failure on Thursday evening. The written communication by the Scientology member was said to be ‘provably false in content.’ For instance, it asserted that Teufel was related by marriage to someone who is known by name to be a Scientologist. However a familial or other type of relationship to this person does not exist.”
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“Jan Eastgate is the Myra Hindley of scientology. She looks just like her.”
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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] Miss Lovely is still unbreakable: It’s Paulette Cooper’s birthday!
[TWO years ago] Scientology tried to destroy her, but Paulette Cooper is living her best life
[THREE years ago] Miss Lovely tells us she has a birthday wish this year, and it’s about Mr. Lovely
[FOUR years ago] Leah Remini blames Tom Cruise for the spiking of Aussie Scientology investigation
[FIVE years ago] Happy Birthday, Miss Lovely! And look what Paulette Cooper gave herself for a gift
[SIX years ago] Paulette Cooper turns 76: ‘I found my best friend from the orphanage — from 70 years ago’
[SEVEN years ago] Paulette Cooper at 75: Still unbreakable, and still Miss Lovely
[EIGHT years ago] Hungarian tabloid’s wacky claim: Shit poured on Scientology’s leader in Budapest protest
[NINE years ago] Happy Birthday, Miss Lovely: A tribute to the dauntless and unbreakable Paulette Cooper
[TEN years ago] Scientology surrenders — at least partially — in seven lawsuits against its rehab network
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology, Your Proprietor, and the Airwaves
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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 2,973 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,468 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,983 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,533 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,523 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,404 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,708 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,579 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,131 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,472 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,039 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,958 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,126 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,708 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,968 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,004 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,720 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,284 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,599 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,774 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,325 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,456 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,794 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,647 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,768 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,124 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,427 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,533 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,931 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,807 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,372 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,885 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,139 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,247 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 26, 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
