TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re not the only ones bowled over by the new version of the Orlando lawsuit against Priscilla Presley. After seeing the new allegations — including the claim that Priscilla and Elvis Presley have an unidentified grandkid in Florida — Priscilla has asked for more time to respond. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“On a lower level the body accepts motivators; as soon as it is through this motivator band, it accepts sacrifices and finally comes up to a point where it will accept live bodies. When one considers that eating is entirely a matter of absorbing death, one sees this death hunger in processing by running Sacrifices. A person who has had bad legs should have a sacrifice of legs run on him and so forth. This is astonishing material. It is almost unbelievable that the GE will not be sacrificed to anything, but will only be sacrificed to, and this phenomenon that the GE is thereby demanding death tells us at once that the atomic bomb will be used and that there are people in the world who will actually crave this sacrifice of cities and even nations.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1972
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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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“Your thetan has to be able to tolerate three kinds of space in order to endure at all in this universe. This universe isn’t any savage beast sitting there. It’s just a sort of an inanimate boobytrap which we have made ourselves, really. And then we victimized ourselves with it, so we have all been betrayed. This universe couldn’t have had a better purpose in going forward so that everybody could be the, have the beautiful sadness of having been betrayed. And yet you look into it, the only person that can betray an individual is himself.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 6, 1953
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“HYGIENE: Step up all hygiene standards, personal, berthing and food. With the turn of cold weather I’m going further north. There is a bit of flu about and the World Health Organization has not been doing all that well in keeping ports’ public health in good shape.” — The Commodore, November 6, 1971
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“It is not easy to stay afloat, especially now. Scientology doesn’t have a good reputation, so to make a decent living out if it is hard. Being somewhat Indie is easy, but to try it 100 percent for a living, that is hard.”
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1997: The New York Times reported that a German Scientologist has been granted asylum in the United States. “A federal immigration court judge has granted asylum to a German member of the Church of Scientology who claimed that she would be subjected to religious persecution had she been required to return to her homeland, the woman’s lawyer and a Scientology official said Friday. While few details of the case were available, it is believed to be the first time the United States has given asylum protection to a Scientologist. The Church of Scientology has been waging a highly public international campaign against what it considers discrimination against its members by the German government. Officials at the German Embassy in Washington said Friday that they had not heard of the asylum decision and would have no reaction until it was confirmed. An immigration court judge decided to approve the woman’s application to remain in this country after a hearing last February. Officials at the State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service in Washington said they were unaware of the case. John Lund, an immigration lawyer in Tampa who represents the German woman, said his client was in the United States legally. ‘She voluntarily applied for asylum,’ Lund said, ‘and the matter was referred to the immigration court by the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The court made the decision, based on her individual facts, that she should be granted asylum.’ Lund said the woman’s case was not part of any orchestrated effort by the Church of Scientology to publicize its claims of discrimination. ‘Our matter was totally outside of any campaign by the church,’ Lund said. ‘This individual was acting solely on her own.’ To protect relatives still in Germany, Lund and Scientology officials refused to disclose the woman’s name or where she lived. Kurt Weiland, an official with the Church of Scientology International, said a dozen German witnesses testified at the immigration hearing that the woman faced severe persecution in her homeland. ‘She proved her suffering, the damage she experienced emotionally and economically, and how she was ostracized from society, all for no other reason than her religion,’ Weiland said. A State Department spokesman, James Rubin, said he was unaware of the Scientology asylum case. But Rubin said the treatment of Scientologists in Germany was discussed on Wednesday by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright in a meeting in Washington with Foreign Minister Klaus Kinkel of Germany.”
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“I understand where you’re coming from but the bottom line is that Scientology is a con and conning people is illegal, regardless of whether the victims are dupes and suckers.”
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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:
— 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] Tom Cruise goes black tie for Scientology at ‘Patrons Ball’ in England
[TWO years ago] Deposition: Scientology’s targeting of Paul Haggis that isn’t speculation
[THREE years ago] Heads on pikes: L. Ron Hubbard’s lasting legacy of ruthlessness in Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Scientology looking to force Danny Masterson’s accusers into ‘religious arbitration’ today
[FIVE years ago] Kansas City gets its first Scientology wedding: We solicited some advice for the young couple
[SIX years ago] Juliette Lewis wants on ‘Red Table Talk’ — and here’s what Jada Smith should ask her
[SEVEN years ago] Tracking Scientology’s claims about membership — a new digital project with Jonny Jacobsen
[EIGHT years ago] After Scientologist is outed, leaders he fooled still stick up for his quack drug theories
[NINE years ago] Jefferson Hawkins: What those Scientologists in yellow T-shirts at a disaster scene really want
[TEN years ago] RIFFER MADNESS: Scientology leader David Miscavige goes smeary in new court filing
[ELEVEN years ago] More Questions About Scientology-Style Drug Rehab And Insurance — This Time in Michigan
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,075 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,570 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,085 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,635 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,625 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,011 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,506 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,810 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,681 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,233 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,574 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,141 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,060 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,228 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,810 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,070 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,106 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,822 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,386 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,701 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,876 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,558 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,895 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,749 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,864 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,226 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,529 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,635 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,033 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,909 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,474 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,985 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,241 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,349 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 6, 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
