TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Earlier this week we told you about OT Scientologists at the Kennedy Center and in the Ukraine talks, and now we have to bring up the involvement of Scientology and its anti-psychiatry goals in regards to the country’s highest health official, the newly confirmed RFK Jr. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“We’re not in the business of curing psychos. The governments at this writing pay the psychiatrists billions a year to torture and kill because of R/Ses they don’t know anything about. The crime in the society out there is caused by people who R/S. Stalin, Hitler, Napoleon and Caesar were probably the most loaded R/Sers of all time unless it was Jack the Ripper or your local friendly psychiatrist. So know what you are seeing when you see it and know what to do about it. And don’t kid yourself. Or vilify or mow down people who R/S; we’re not in that business. And the Expanded Dianetic Specialist and the pc someday will love you dearly for knowing your job and doing it right.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1976
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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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“[The] press and the public are interested in murder, assault, destruction, violence, sex and dishonesty in that order. Investigations which can uncover these factors in the activities of individuals of a group attacking Scientology are valuable in the degree that they contain a number of these factors. The more factors a case contains the more important the case is. The idea is that the press feeds on these factors and we feed them someone else’s. It will be found that our own Scientology groups contain so few of these they have to be invented about us. We need never invent them in the attacking group. They will be found to be there.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 17, 1966
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“The Flag Admin Org has a deficiency in LINE CONSCIOUSNESS. Because a line is invisible, one overlooks their presence. It’s public lines and routing lines are very poor. Lack of signs and advices and flash colors obscure lines. The staff member has to know where to route the particles and bodies and signs and flash marked paths and signs have to exist. An engineer flash marking pipes would understand this. I recommend the whole FAO get genned in by Dave Murphy on pipe flows as a starter. That makes the idea visible.” — The Commodore, February 17, 1971
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“I am back home for a little while. The Covid was insignificant compared to the diagnosis of terminal mesothelioma. It almost certainly was caused by working with asbestos many years ago on the Apollo…It has saddened me too over the years to see long time Scientologists, LRH included, fall prey to ailments of the body. We quite simply do not have OTs at the level of disintegrating cancer. I shall however be looking at various approaches in the forthcoming months. I did get rather flattened recently with a pile of negative postulates that I have been peeling off.”
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1996: The first Internet posting by Monica Pignotti was made to a.r.s this week. “For those of you who don’t know me I am a EX 6-year member of the CofS who wrote an account of my experience which was posted on ars My Nine Lives in Scientology. I was involved from 1970-76, which included time done on the Apollo, Clearwater, AOLA and the Salt Lake City mission. I’d love to hear from anyone who knew me back then and anyone else who would care to write. I’ve been out for nearly 20 years now — the anniversary date of my leaving and getting back my freedom was August 22nd, 1976. I’ve never for a moment regretted my decision to leave and I am a very happy SP, even though current members believe this is an oxymoron.”
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“47x Shades of Cray: The Grant Cardone Story”
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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. 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.
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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] PODCAST: She spied on the FBI for Scientology and lived to tell about it
[TWO years ago] Danny Masterson retrial: No, the DA is not putting less focus on Scientology
[THREE years ago] Shekter: The proposition that threatened to upend my Scientology billion-year commitment
[FOUR years ago] The FBI wants a word with Leigh Dundas, Scientologist attorney and Capitol rioter
[FIVE years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Another look at Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s final hiding place
[SIX years ago] Another Scientology monument to L. Ron Hubbard is going up in besieged Clearwater
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology set to turn Silicon Valley ‘Ideal!’ Here’s our first look from the grand opening
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s next move in forced-abortion lawsuit: Deposing defectors
[NINE years ago] When will academics acknowledge that the Scientology ‘apostate’ theory is finished?
[TEN years ago] On the eve of the big Tampa hearing, the Garcias fire back at Scientology’s ‘bench memo’
[ELEVEN years ago] NEW DATE: Celebration details of Los Angeles Scientology facilities leaked
[TWELVE years ago] Sunday Funnies: The Grant Cardone Is An Asshat Special Edition!
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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 3,178 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,673 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,188 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,738 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,728 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,114 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,609 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,913 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,784 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,336 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,677 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,244 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,163 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,331 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,913 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,172 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,209 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,925 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,489 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,804 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,979 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,661 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,998 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,852 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,967 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,329 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,738 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,136 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,012 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,577 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,088 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,344 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,452 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 17, 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
