TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: On Tuesday we told you we’d heard from the court handling Danny Masterson’s appeal that it accepted an initial brief from attorney Cliff Gardner. But what’s in it? We break down the main arguments in the 35,000-word document, and get an analysis from a veteran appellate attorney. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“A Cramming Officer can fail in his efforts to correct a flubbing staff member if he tries to cram over out ruds. Cramming done over an ARC Break, like Auditing, will result in the person getting worse, more out of comm or misemotional. Cramming a person over a problem or W/H will produce no change so no correction will occur. Out ruds are easy to spot. The person with an ARC Break, won’t talk or is misemotional or antagonistic. A problem produces fixated attention that prevents Cramming from finding the actual area of difficulty. Natter and 1.1 remarks means a withhold.
Recently a musician being crammed kept bringing up a dispatch that he was in mystery about concerning the group. Every time it was mentioned it read or BDed yet the Cramming Officer continued “Cramming” him and never handled it. So no product. I sat the musician down, told him he was crammed over a problem, the mystery about the dispatch, cleaned it up by getting the dispatch and letting him go over it, made sure the problem was handled then found the area of misunderstood and traced it back to an early age and the Why fell right out. And I got the Cramming Officer crammed by the Senior C/S and found her Why too. So the moral of the story is DON’T CRAM OVER OUT RUDS.” — 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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“I had the officers of six other ships in my squadron come aboard, and only one of them stood alongside of me, and the other five were trying to convince me that if I kept this up I was going to get everybody killed. I said, ‘Kept what up?’ ‘You keep attacking these submarines.’ I said, ‘What are we supposed to be doing, gentlemen?’ And they said, ‘Well, every time a submarine shows up, you needn’t signal attack! It’s stupid! You’re going to get somebody hurt!’ I proved to them tactically that if you did not suddenly attack a submarine and if you did retire behind the convoy every time one showed up, you’re going to get yourself killed for sure — for sure! This was not in their level of agreement. They never did get it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 1, 1957
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“You realize, Officers and Crew, if you bring this cruise off splendidly, no port of the entire Med or Continental Europe is closed to us. The enemy anti-ship action will have been totally defeated. Keep that in mind when a little extra zing has to go into the action. It will be a big coup if you bring it off.” — The Commodore, February 1, 1970
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“What surprises me is why so many people at least in public groups outside Rons Org drop off the CBR Bridge at around OT 16. What CBR states about the Other Determined Case and the Pan-Determined Case is absolutely true. It doesn’t matter what the route is. These vast areas of case are in truth what we actually need to handle yet only a very small number of people seem to recognise this, assume responsibility and step beyond the limitations of their own self-determined viewpoints. Unless a person assumes at least a willingness to assume total responsibility for all interactions across all dynamics and across the entirety of existence itself plus the totality of our theta relationships, the brilliant, the good, the bad and the ugly, as those relationships, interactions and dynamics, then the person basically doesn’t stand a chance of summoning up the necessary stability and confront to handle the other determined and pan determined case and so remains doomed to eternity, due to a condition of diminished responsibility. Thus the New Civilisation Game. Without PURPOSE, a person simply doesn’t make it through. That’s my take on why people drop off the CBR Bridge without completing the cycle of action to its final EP and Valuable Final Exchangeable Product.”
2001: Battlefield Earth has been nominated for the Razzie awards, given to theworst films of the year. From UPI: “The infamous Golden Raspberry Award Foundation struck again this week with nomination ballots for the 21st annual Razzie awards, the least sought-after trophies in show business. The awards spoof the sanctified Academy Awards, which take no notice of the Razzies. It matters not to Razzie officials whether a film is a hit, nor does the popularity of stars make a difference. If the membership deems the work awful, disgusting, untenable or obnoxious, it rewards the effort with a Razzie. This year’s suggested nominees: Any two actors in Blair Witch 2. Patricia Arquette and Adam Sandler (Little Nicky). Joan Collins and Harvey Korman (The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas). Richard Gere and Winona Ryder (Autumn in New York). Any two Pokemon (Pokemon 2000). Madonna and either Rupert Everett or Benjamin Bratt (The Next Best Thing). Tom Cruise and Thandie Newton (Mission: Impossible 2). Ah-nold as the real Adam Gibson, and Ah-nold as the clone of Adam Gibson in (The 6th Day). And finally, John Travolta and any one sharing the screen with him in Battlefield Earth.”
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“I still keep coming back to the fact that the mind control/brainwashing/undue influence only worked on a very small percentage of those exposed to it. I think that the focus should be on what the 5 percent (or thereabouts) of the exposed population who joined groups like Scientology, the NSDAP or the Khmer Rouge have in common.”
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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:
— 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 hopping mad after Mike Rinder and Claire Headley help out Leah Remini
[TWO years ago] She was branded a Scientologist villain by some online. But is she a villain at all?
[THREE years ago] This document really captures what it’s like to be a Scientology indentured servant
[FOUR years ago] Did Tom Mesereau just reveal his strategy for Danny Masterson’s crucial prelim?
[FIVE years ago] What are Valerie Haney’s options after Scientology won its arbitration motion?
[SIX years ago] NFL great Marshall Faulk plugs Scientology front group on Fox News
[SEVEN years ago] Viewers react to Tampa NBC affiliate saying Scientology is sponsoring Winter Olympics
[EIGHT years ago] The odd and slightly troubling thing Elon Musk and L. Ron Hubbard have in common
[NINE years ago] MONIQUE RATHBUN FIRES HER ENTIRE LEGAL TEAM, REPORTEDLY SEEKS SETTLEMENT
[TEN years ago] About that Scientology ad you saw on TV before and during the Super Bowl
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack takes apart the Scientology E-meter
[TWELVE years ago] Blogging Dianetics, Part 5: Your Mind is a 1950s Computer
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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 3,162 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,657 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,172 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,722 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,712 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,098 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,593 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,897 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,768 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,320 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,661 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,228 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,147 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,315 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,897 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,156 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,193 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,909 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,473 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,788 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,963 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,645 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,982 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,836 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,951 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,313 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,722 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,120 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,996 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,561 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,072 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,328 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,436 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 1, 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
