TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We are sorry to hear of the passing of Neville Chamberlin, who was among the first members of Scientology’s Sea Org when it was formed in the sixties, and who, years later, wrote fascinating descriptions of his days with founder L. Ron Hubbard under the pen name ‘Dart Smohen.’ [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“One has to be very careful about the correctness of the pc actually having Rockslammed while on the meter that it was actually observed, that it was not mechanically caused. One puts the R/S down on the worksheet and also gives exactly what was asked. And also that the mechanical points were checked without distracting the pc. ONE MUST ALWAYS REPORT A ROCKSLAM IN THE AUDITING REPORT, NOTE IT WITH SESSION DATE AND PAGE INSIDE THE LEFT COVER OF THE PC’S FOLDER AND REPORT IT TO ETHICS INCLUDING THE QUESTION OR SUBJECT WHICH ROCKSLAMMED, PHRASED EXACTLY. Why? Because the Rockslam is the most important needle manifestation! It gives the clue to the pc’s case.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1976
——————–
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.
——————–
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
——————–
“I have a bit of a news bulletin, has nothing to do with the mental health empire that Mr. Kennedy is trying to create in the United States at 1.6 billion dollars, that isn’t news. The Federal government, of course, always has wanted the right to incarcerate any citizen for-without trial, and of course, immediately they get their Legislation passed, why, they’ll be able to do that. In other words, they’ll be able to incarcerate any citizen without commission-permission from his family, without a medical consultation and without a trial, and will be able to move him at any time without the consultation with the family or a hearing or a trial, and do anything to him they wish, such as electric shocks and prefrontal lobotomies. And of course that makes a very interesting political empire, and Mr. Kennedy is trying to create just that empire right this minute. So I think that’s very interesting.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 12, 1963
——————–
“D/G US Bob Thomas informs us Org personnel are safe and secure in the California Earthquake. We telexed back expressing our concern and appreciation.” — The Commodore, February 12, 1971
——————–
“I completed the original LRH bridge through OT7, then completed the new bridge, NOTS and OT8 but wanted more. I started researching and found the CBR bridge. I looked at what LRH had done and left and determined that LRH had completed the Power Change ethics condition and assigned Scientology tech to CBR and/or David Mayo. The CBR bridge was completed sometime after that. I read all the CBR materials including Excalibur (which I did not run as I had finished solo Nots) and the OT levels through OT40. I ran all the processes that read up to OT17 which is a far as I was interested in running. I had rather substantial gains, increases in awareness, increases in understanding and a decrease in my reaction time. This is not a question as to whether this is really LRH tech, I am not interested in that discussion. So if the gains are there to be had, do some still believe it is incorrect to run the processes?”
——————–
1998: The New York Post reported that U.S. President Bill Clinton has offered to help John Travolta with Scientology’s standing in Germany. “John Travolta says President Clinton offered to help him with a pet project – getting Scientology accepted as a religion in Germany – just as he was about to play a character based on the president. The movie is based on Joe Klein’s best-selling novel about a lying, womanizing Southern governor – modeled on Clinton – who is running for president.. George says the final product, set for release next month, is far more sympathetic to ‘Clinton’ than is the book. ‘You have to be dead not see that the film favors Clinton,’ admitted Travolta, who gained 20 pounds and streaked his hair gray to look presidential in the film. Travolta told writer Josh Young that just before ‘Primary Colors’ went before the cameras last April, the actor was in Washington to promote Scientology – a controversial belief Travolta and scores of other Hollywood types embrace. ‘The next day, I met with Clinton,’ Travolta told George. ‘He told me: Your program sounds great. More than that, I’d really love to help you with your issue over in Germany with Scientology.’ For Travolta, Clinton reportedly went to the extraordinary length of assigning National Security Adviser Sandy Berger to be the administration’s Scientology point man. Berger briefed Travolta in the same manner he would a senior senator, George reports. A White House official said last night, ‘it is perfectly normal and logical’ for Berger to get involved in the Scientology issue because ‘it is in the general area of human rights concerns and this is something we have raised with the German government.'”
——————–
“If only we could take a ride in Mr. Peabody’s Wayback Machine to pre-1970 and that magical time before the 100 percent scientifically correct TECH turned into incomprehensible DRECK. The gods are cruel.”
——————–
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. DA’s response to appeal brief due April 15.
— ‘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.
— 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.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] While Scientology tries to derail Danny Masterson victims, here’s more detail from them
[TWO years ago] Here’s the 2023 Scientology Super Bowl ad, this year’s ‘mystery sandwich’
[THREE years ago] Chill EB? Joy Villa? Kuba Ka? All hail the next Scientology celebrity superstar: Wicked Witch!
[FOUR years ago] Danny Masterson accusers signal they’ll go to higher court to fight ‘religious arbitration’
[FIVE years ago] The skateboard hero & the anti-Semite: Insider report from Scientology’s bizarre celeb event
[SIX years ago] ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’ shelved two episodes, delayed one in season three
[SEVEN years ago] How Scientology gamed Google to increase the effectiveness of its Super Bowl ad
[EIGHT years ago] Welcome to your Scientology nightmare, people of Clearwater, Florida
[NINE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY’S SPACE MAN: The newest defector from church management opens up
[TEN years ago] Fact-checking Danny Masterson’s remarkable Paper interview about Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] This is Scientology today: Oregon 10-year-old celebrated for donating $100,000
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Does Star Wars: That’s No Moon, It’s a Fundraiser!
——————–
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 3,173 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,668 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,183 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,733 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,723 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,109 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,604 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,908 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,779 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,331 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,672 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,239 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,158 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,326 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,908 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,167 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,204 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,920 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,484 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,799 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,974 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,656 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,993 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,847 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,962 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,324 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,733 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,131 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,007 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,572 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,083 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,339 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,447 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 12, 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
