TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’ve been telling you about new TV ads that Scientology is running in 30 countries (they say) in a big new push. And once again, the ads feature a narrator trying to make Scientology seem edgy and cool. For years we’ve wondered, who is that guy? And finally, we have an answer. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“We are very rich in materials, in results and in the potential future. Through our hardest times we have endured. Into our brightest times we are expanding. These materials contain the full basics of the only game in the universe where everyone wins, the game of triumphant life itself.” — 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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“Some people have been awfully mean to us. Now let’s knock them down the emotional curve. The way you do it is to define a miracle and then turn them out, because you can turn out a certain percentage of miracles. The lame aren’t good enough — you want somebody who can’t walk. The blind are fine, but don’t get people blind in just one eye; you want a seeing-eye-dog type of blindness. And if you follow out that line of advance you will then, as a third-, fifth- or tenth-echelon reaction, help all the others….All of a sudden it starts word of mouth all over: ‘Dianetics is turning on people’s sight.’ Everybody who is blind, who really wants some help and objects to being blind and isn’t basing all the approval of his life upon being blind, will be on the other end of a telephone, as far as you are concerned….Let’s set up shop and undo three specific problems. I know you have a lot of preclears that are hanging on your skirts and so forth. Give them the book and tell them to give you a call, and you go to work on blindness, arthritis ‘can’ts’ and children in bed with the aftereffects of polio. Just work on those categories. Don’t take children that have been all chewed up by surgery. You can make them better off but they are not spectacular.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 27, 1951
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“We are moving toward AD 21 with all aces. The sequence of (1) Put Flag here (2) Put Coninental Liaison there (3) Put orgs there is working out very well. We have been about 14 months on this sequence of actions already. We’re about 2/3rds through No. 1, 1/2 through No. 2 and, assisted by the FEBC student pgm are already begun on No. 3. The targets I’m working toward is every SO tripled in size and every Scn org in the world the size and activity of SH 1967. As we have now proved out that we have the only fast effective tech on the planet that handles the sick and insane as well as everything else we have had, it is obvious that if we just keep on going the way we’re going and our people have and wear their hats, we’ll make it!” — The Commodore, December 27, 1970
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“53 new people have gone and viewed our website in the past month. Non Existence condition is going good so far.”
1999: The The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported that Scientologist dentist Richard Brittain has been sentenced for fraud. “After sentencing Dr. Richard E. Brittain Jr., 44, to serve a year in prison for the offense, U.S. District Judge Leon Jordan recommended that Brittain apply for a license which will allow him to practice pro bono dentistry under the supervision of another dentist for a limited period of time. Brittain, who voluntarily surrendered his license in 1997 after an investigation into his activities, had faced from 18 to 24 months behind bars for bilking the Medicaid/TennCare program and private dental insurance plans out of more than $200,000 over a five-year period. After attending a management training program conducted by the Church of Scientology in 1992, Brittain began offering his LaFollette office staff free cruises or $1,000 cash bonuses if they met the revenue-boosting goals he set, according to his plea-agreement papers. He also ‘engaged in actions’ which caused the staff to submit the false claims on his behalf. According to the agreement papers, Brittain and his office submitted claims from 1992 to 1997 for services that were not performed or not medically necessary. ‘He profited tremendously,’ Weddle said. ‘When he was first approached by the TBI, he willfully concealed files and instructed employees to manufacture notations in dental files that would disguise the fraud.'”
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“When I first read about ‘TR-Alice’ I was stunned because to me it was so obviously Hubbard laughing at his marks and laying out a huge clue that he was scamming them.”
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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, 2023. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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 January 13, 2025.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal.
— 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. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1.
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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] Scientology’s celebration of its biggest donors was even more ultra than we realized
[TWO years ago] POLL: Scientology tied with Satanism for America’s most ‘unfavorable’ religions
[THREE years ago] After leaving Scientology, the 1960s band People! has a new album out!
[FOUR years ago] The expensive set of nutty experiences Scientology is pushing hard right now
[FIVE years ago] This year’s best Scientology shoops by readers of the Underground Bunker
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s humanitarians will continue to salvage this planet in 2019
[SEVEN years ago] Looking back at July ’17: How a billionaire set up psych drugs to fuel Scientology into the future
[EIGHT years ago] Tonight on ‘Leah Remini’: Marc & Claire Headley on forced abortions and Sea Org escapes
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s 2015 in review: Our July travels, and the day care story we can’t forget
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s 2014 in review: For July, a stunning story of independence
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s 2013 in review: The appeals of May and the blunts of June
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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 3,126 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,621 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,136 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,686 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,676 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,062 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,557 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,861 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,732 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,284 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,625 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,192 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,111 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,279 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,861 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,121 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,157 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,873 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,437 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,752 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,927 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,609 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,946 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,800 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,915 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,277 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,580 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,686 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,084 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,960 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,525 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,036 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,292 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,400 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 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
