TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: In 2012 Mike Rinder helped us assemble a list of prisoners in ‘The Hole,’ Scientology’s bizarre concentration camp at Int Base. Now, one of our researchers has used public records to determine how many of those execs are still located at the base. And even, which of them voted. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“In a person in a psychotic break, it is necessary to isolate them for them to destimulate and to protect them and others from possible damage. While in isolation the person receives the Introspection RD done flawlessly on a short-session basis, gradiently winning and gaining confidence. Between sessions the muzzled rule is in force. No one speaks to the person or in his hearing. There comes a point where the C/S must decide to release the person from isolation. To do this the C/S must know that the person can take responsibility for his actions as regards others, as well as toward himself.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1974
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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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“If anybody ever sends you to jail, by all means, go to Alcatraz. They’re tearing it down. I’m just thinking of the Federal government. Even their prisons are going to pieces. Have you, did you know that? We’ve got to audit those people, that’s all there is to it, you know, because they’re in a violent ARC break. Somebody’s missed an item on the US government. I think, personally, they missed it with a no-auditing situation. We haven’t had any plan for auditing the government. We got one president audited. That was Truman. We ain’t had anybody else audited. Now, I just think they’re suffering from no auditing. Course, so of course, that leaves all items missed. And that’s another way of missing items. But it isn’t to a violent state. Somebody must have missed a list or something on the FDA. They must have. They must have. ‘What crumb are you?’ or something like that, something. ‘What type of insect egg did you come out of?’ You know?” — L. Ron Hubbard, January 15, 1963
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“Thank you for answering my questionaire on what we should be doing. I can announce as a result of this that we are now doing what the whole crew wants us to be doing. We’re now getting operational so we can accomplish these things. We had a lot to catch up just so we could begin. All right, we’re obviously in agreement. So let’s get the show on the road and get done what we all want to do. Thank you for your help on the Questionnaire and on the ship.” — The Commodore, January 15, 1969
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“Wonder why there is a forced vaccination agenda, forced lockdowns and the United Nations agenda to reduce the population of Earth? Why there are scienos or ex-scienos voting and supporting Joe Biden and his human enslavement agenda of forced vaccinations, more Income Tax and LGBT perversions? LRH explains it all on the taped lecture: The Free Being. He explains that at the beginning, spiritual beings created their puppet societies. Then those spiritual beings taught their puppet societies how to entrap other spiritual beings. At the end those puppet societies ended up entrapping all the free beings, including the ones that created them (you). And finally LRH describes the method to reverse this cycle of entrapment and recover the Free Beings. He also describes the structure of the new society that is going to incorporate the Free Beings in harmony with the puppet societies.”
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1998: Bob Minton was deposed by Scientology this week in the Lisa McPherson civil case. Scientology is attempting to find ulterior motives for Bob’s financial contributions to the case. “[I] Survived deposition yesterday – cult has tail between legs. But there is a confidentiality agreement and depo sealed. [A] New ‘Freedom’ glossy entitled ‘Freedom of Speech At Risk In Cyberspace’ passed out on Beacon Hill tonight. It’s another in the fine line of Freedom Magazine’s Special Issues.”
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“You don’t have to go up the Bridge to achieve a position of power in Scientology. All you have to do is be a wily, conniving, ruthless asshole. Just like every other totalitarian organization in history.”
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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 February 24, 2025.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
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. 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] The civil case against Scientology and Danny Masterson, laid out in detail
[TWO years ago] Chris Shelton talks again to the Masterson trial jury foreman — and his daughter
[THREE years ago] Neil Sarfati on the perils of telling mainstream media about Scientology’s abuses
[FOUR years ago] Judge denies Scientology’s motion for $160,000 in sanctions against Valerie Haney
[FIVE years ago] Woman named in Danny Masterson lawsuit denies she’s smearing his victims for Scientology
[SIX years ago] LEAH REMINI WILL AIR EPISODE WITH DANNY MASTERSON’S ACCUSERS ON FEBRUARY 18
[SEVEN years ago] Joy Villa’s former manager: ‘Scientology destroyed everything’
[EIGHT years ago] On the ‘Leah Remini’ Reddit special this week: A powerful Texas duo
[NINE years ago] Explain your vote, judge tells Maryland county that denied Scientology rehab
[TEN years ago] Scientology takes out full-page ad in the New York Times to attack Alex Gibney
[ELEVEN years ago] Leah Remini talks briefly about Scientology on Access Hollywood, says very little
[TWELVE years ago] Paul Haggis on Scientology in NBC Interview: “It’s a Cult. Of Course It Is.”
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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.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,145 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,640 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,155 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,705 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,695 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,081 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,576 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,880 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,751 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,303 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,644 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,211 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,130 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,298 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,880 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,140 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,176 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,892 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,456 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,771 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,946 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,628 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,965 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,819 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,934 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,296 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,705 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,103 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,979 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,544 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,055 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,311 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,419 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 15, 2025 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
