TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Sheri Hamilton has been the COO of Grant Cardone’s ’10X’ enterprise since 2011, and like him is a dedicated Scientology donor. We thought the timing was interesting for her to make this passionate pitch about forking over your money for the church’s building projects. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“There is no difference in the technology required to run a basic or a later incident. It is only the number of times THROUGH that differs. Basic is run through many times. A somewhat later engram is run through a couple of times. An engram very late on the chain is gone through once. Otherwise all engrams whether basic or not are run exactly the same.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
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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 blew up a whole writing class one time. It’s a wonder they all didn’t leave school. Actually, they relegated it to sort of getting the professor to reprimand me. It was the short story class of Harvard — excuse me, ‘Hah-varrd.’ They made the mistake of having a series of lectures from successful writers. And each one of these gave them a short series of lectures. And all of these people were in a class called Creative Writing. And they were very nicely dressed children. And so my lectures were very well received, and so forth, right up to a point….Because what I told the class that caused them to completely blow up was, I said, ‘Well,’ I said, ‘when you’ve written a few hundred thousand words, why, then you’ve got a style. And it’s taken me about I think, about a hundred thousand words before I had any inkling of any kind of a style.’ And I suddenly noticed, I looked around, I had a class in front of me that was in a state of shock!…It had never occurred to those damned fools or that professor that writers write! And this had nothing whatsoever to do with their education. I know that’s an unbelievable experience. It left me in a state of shock. ‘Well, Hubbard’s an awful bad fellow.’ Never forgave me. I was probably used as a horrible example in that school for years.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 9, 1965
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“AOUK is the highest GI since September 1969! The International GI is the highest since 5 May 1969! Yet several orgs GIs were missing on it due to telex delays! So the FB and production of FAO are showing up where it counts. This is the direct result of renewed Flag industriousness, the teams we are sending out and the on the ground hard work of willing staffs. All have a part in producing such wins, storesmen, engineers, the whole crew.” — The Commodore, March 9, 1971
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“There are suppressive people in our groups and we are reasonable with them. We allow them to third party good auditors, we allow them to pervert the tech. We allow too much and thus, like a cancer, it spreads, and it taints the very hard work we do to make things go right for us and for the rest of us. Consider that your average SP is dangerous enough. Now, you add Scientology into the mix and you have a much more powerful monster. We have monsters among us. I’m sorry if that’s too critical, too bitchy, too reactive for you to have. We have monsters posing as friends, 1.1ing us all the way until our eventual demise. Confronting evil is necessary. In my opinion it is one of, if not the most ethical thing(s) to do.”
2002: The National Enquirer reported that Scientology celebrities Lisa Marie Presley and Kirstie Alley are taking Scientology
courses to help them find compatible mates. “Feeling that they’re unlucky in love, Scientologists Lisa Marie Presley and Kirstie Alley slipped away to the Church of Scientology retreat in Clearwater, Fla., to take up studies that will help them find men who are life soul mates.”
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“Hey, a free trip to America and free rice and beans probably sounds pretty good to a fairly large segment of the world’s population.”
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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 March 31.
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] PODCAST: Mark Bunker on Scientologists stealing his campaign signs
[TWO years ago] Scientology documentary resurfaces, and it leads to a foreign exchange program!
[THREE years ago] Scientology and Ukraine: While some back Putin, Volunteer Ministers see an opportunity
[FOUR years ago] Civil case on ice (for now), and will Danny Masterson show for next criminal hearing?
[FIVE years ago] Scientology attempts to clean up its balloon mess by clearing beach of syringes
[SIX years ago] William Burroughs at Scientology’s ‘Saint Hill Manor’ in 1968, before his discontent
[SEVEN years ago] Scientologists bombarded to attend Hubbard birthday events, and this is our favorite flier
[EIGHT years ago] As Louis Theroux’s ‘My Scientology Movie’ hits U.S., troubling news of co-star Marty Rathbun
[NINE years ago] Scientology ‘disconnection’ billboard to be a block from David Miscavige’s office & residence
[TEN years ago] Scientology documentary ‘Going Clear’ participants getting harassed, threatened
[ELEVEN years ago] Video Vault: When Scientology basked in the success of giant cucumbers
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Mythbusting with Jon Atack: Xenu the Galactic Overlord, Part 1!
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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 3,198 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,693 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,208 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,758 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,748 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,134 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,629 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,933 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,804 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,356 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,697 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,264 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,183 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,351 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,933 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,192 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,229 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,945 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,509 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,824 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,999 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,681 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,018 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,872 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,987 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,349 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,758 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,156 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,032 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,597 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,108 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,364 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,472 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 9, 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
