TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: When we heard that Tom Cruise would be rappelling into the Stade de France to take the Olympic flag, we raised a question: Would LA Mayor Karen Bass once again be involved in a big promotion for Scientology? Last night we got our answer. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Say, for example, there is a big accident and a crowd of people are pressing around. The police are trying to push the people back. Well, push the people back and then push the policeman back. Say, ‘Officer, keep these people at a distance.’ Then you lean over the victim and snap him back to rights. If you are enough THERE, everybody else will realize that you are the ONE that is THERE. Therefore, such things as panic, worry, wonder, upset, looking dreamily into the far distance, wondering what is wrong or what should be done, are no part of your make-up if you are rendering an assist. Cool, calm and collected should be the keynote of your attitude.” — 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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“Apparently transfers from the Galley without apprenticeship or replacement and Quadruple hatting the food purchaser so he simply used the food chandler ashore are some of the obvious whys back of the sudden recent drop in food quality. The WHYs being advertised are the wrong whys — low allocation is a wrong why. The food isn’t kept to allocation and has become VERY expensive for very low quality due to using a chandler. This would not remedy the increased allocation as the allocation is already not followed. Advertising this as the why or remedying it will not restore food quality.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 12, 1971
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“SURVEY: A great job was done in the E/R, by D/Capt, Ship’s Rep and 1st Mate and others in passing the survey. Possibly we even get our Lloyd’s Yacht Class. We are a yacht by registry. A Lloyds yacht class is different and useful. But true enough, in dismantling working installations for survey and reassembly, when we tried to start up one engine just wouldn’t start. A valve had been reversed! And an injector bleed valve was leaking. Two tugs were on hand as a precaution. Our E/R guys put it right quickly. Must have been an awful shock to push the starting lever and have nothing happen. That’s how it goes when working installations get dismantled!” — The Commodore, August 12, 1970
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“Currently, most of the world has been ordered to shut down. People are told to stay in their homes and no go out. Freedom curtailed. Told not to touch others. Told there is a pandemic and millions may die, Driving people down the tone scale to Fear. Deprived of income due to no work. Financial problems. Heavy fines (in some countries such as Australia) in the thousands if one is caught outside of home without a ‘justifiable’ reason. Penalty for Being. Media and news channels constantly emitting a barrage of bad news on deaths and how bad it is and the favourite phrase to imply agreement and stick all at the same level, ‘We are all in this together.’ Enforced agreement. These are the hallmarks of driving people PTS. This means that the driving force behind this must be an SP or group of SPs. Just knowing this can de-PTS someone who is familiar with the technology. One does NOT have to go into agreement with this socially enforced culture.”
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1995: Grady Ward reported two violations of his privacy by Scientology investigators this week. “Mr. Waterman [with Pacific Bell] said that although the person did not have the code that I put on my phone bill (after warning from Jeff), he had other details of my life such as social security number, mother’s maiden name, previous phone bills, etc. etc. and said that he had recently suffered a stroke and couldn’t remember the code. After he started getting extremely abusive, Mr Waterman gave him the details of the bill. After hearing the news from Pacific Bell of a person lying to get access to my account information, I contacted my long distance carrier, AT&T and found, not to my surprise, that someone called ‘Grady Ward’ who had just undergone ‘eye surgery’ had required the operators to read off the last three months of my AT&T long distance bills for 707 826 7715 and 707 826 7712. According to Pat with Team 5 at the Mesa, AZ AT&T account services, the impersonator called earlier this PM. Pat said that I had no code on my accounts (I did and had earlier verified it as I did with Pacific Bell). AT&T suggested I put an ‘L’ code on my local carrier bill that supposedly would require *written* authorization before releasing my records.”
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“Refusal to accept one’s own mortality and a belief by humans that they are something more than just another species of animal is what drives this insanity.”
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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] PODCAST: When the ‘Brothers Broken’ lured David Miscavige to their Hollywood celeb blowout!
[TWO years ago] A shaky day handling life and death at Scientology’s Hollywood Celebrity Centre
[THREE years ago] Scientology in England faces huge tax bills on its properties, and keeps failing to evade them
[FOUR years ago] Valerie Haney’s suit against Scientology back to square one after court setback
[FIVE years ago] My brother, the Scientologist: Trying to bridge the gap when Hubbardism is in the way
[SIX years ago] If Scientology is hurting, have its ‘expansion’ plans slowed down? Here’s our assessment
[SEVEN years ago] Garcia case update: Has Judge Whittemore managed to fill a Scientology arbitrating panel?
[EIGHT years ago] Former workers file EEOC complaints saying Grant Cardone forced Scientology on them
[NINE years ago] Scenes from the increasingly desperate straits Scientology finds itself in
[TEN years ago] Mark Bunker: Clearwater is being pressured to knuckle under to Scientology (again)
[ELEVEN years ago] THIS IS THE SOUND OF SCIENTOLOGY’S FORCED DISCONNECTION
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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 2,990 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,485 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,000 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,550 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,540 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,421 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,725 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,596 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,148 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,489 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,056 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,975 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,143 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,725 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,985 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,021 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,737 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,301 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,616 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,791 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,342 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,473 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,811 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,664 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,785 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,141 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,444 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,550 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,948 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,824 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,389 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,902 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,156 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,264 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 12, 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
