TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox, or go to this link: Tonight, Clearwater’s council will vote to give David Miscavige and Scientology some property so the church can use it as part of its plans to build ‘L. Ron Hubbard Hall.’ We got a copy of the excuses one council member is making, and Mark Bunker’s response. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“There is everything to be said for correct medical treatment in the handling of the sick and insane. ‘Insanity’ is most often the suppressed agony of actual physical illness and injury. To ‘treat’ this agony with shock and ‘brain operations’ is a Nuremberg type offense and is indictable as mayhem or manslaughter. The medical treatment of ‘insanity’ requires sure awareness by the patient of his whereabouts and present time. These are usually quite unbearable so he has sunk into the past to escape the agony of the present. The TOUCH ASSIST given to such injured persons permits healing to occur by restoring the person to the present and his whereabouts to some degree. Healing after medical treatment might not occur rapidly if the ‘insane’ or chronically ill person remains in the past, unable to confront the present. Thus the Touch Assist speeds and often permits healing after medical treatment and sometimes in minor injuries and illness permits the doctor to accomplish healing without further treatment.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1969
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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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“With governments leaning all over Scientology and looking down our throats, for instance, the probability — Mary Sue was always curious. She always said, ‘The government wants something out of Scientology.’ She’s always saying this. ‘The government wants something. There’s some reason for this.’ And we finally found it. They want the E-Meter for front-line combat troops. I thought that was very interesting. Yeah, it’s pretty crazy, isn’t it? Typical. You see, they get so much infiltration — this is serious — they get so much infiltration in modern warfare of the type that is being fought, that they can’t tell friend from foe. So they’re going to equip front-line combat troops with portable lie detectors. And, of course, there’s only one portable lie detector in the world, the E-Meter. I knowed something was getting those chilluns, you see? But apparently they have some kind of an interest in it. And you would — a thief or a criminal never can ask you for something. They’ve got to steal it. And I wasn’t saying all the governments are thieves or criminals. Don’t get me wrong. I think there’s one or two that aren’t. I know this is about the wildest curve you ever heard of and it’s completely unbelievable. You can see a soldier walking around carrying an E-Meter. Before he shoots the guy, you see, he puts the electrodes in his hands, you know? Bunch of psychotics. I know, it doesn’t sound right. But it sounds just exactly what a government would do.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 17, 1964
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“Norman Starkey is welcomed to the post of Deputy CS-2. Student riots are really tearing the ground up. The Office in the Capitol is now acting to help the government. Things are cool on lines. ASHO is down again, measures are being taken. London has some out Ethics. DK needed help — they had 3 minor blows and a stat drop for 2 weeks — and are getting it. Their stats are now up again.” — The Commodore, March 17, 1970
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“Genocide on a galactic magnitude does not work. Look what happened after a galactic ruler attempted that on us. The solution for these hivemind Gray ETs is auditing, not genocide. The problem is that there are good Grays and bad Grays. They come from Andromeda. They are minions of the reptilians, but I see the lizards from Buckingham Palace very alive and kicking. That without mentioning that they seem to RULE THE WORLD including the USA. Also, remember that LRH said the future civilization for Earth is a Galactic Confederacy type of society described in the taped lecture ‘The Free Being.’ In it the society includes all kinds of beings, from OTs, limited OTs, Doll Bodies, Meat Bodies and in the meat body bracket comes the Gray ETs and their ant hills. It is probably not well known that, according to Bill Robertson, the government of this Galaxy met with the good Grays from the government of Andromeda to reach an agreement.”
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1996: Dennis Erlich posted an update on Judge White’s recent rulings. “In one order he granted the plaintiff’s motion to modify the injunction against me to include a single bulletin called Routine 3D Commands, for which the scienos had failed to provide proof of copyright earlier. In the same order modifying the injunction against me, he narrowed the type of browsing from which I was enjoined. The injunction now forbids, ‘browsing’ for a commercial purpose the text of a copyrighted work resident on another computer through on-screen examination.’ Another order denies the scienos motion to impound all the material they stole from me during the raid. He asserts again my right as a church critic of fair use of the unpublished material. And he dismisses the claim that by returning the material to me, the scienos were being forced to violate the tenets of their religion and their First Amendment rights. The final order relates to my motion to find the plaintiffs in contempt for not returning the material they stole during the unconstitutional raid. The judge ordered the plaintiffs to supply me with a description of the software and methods they used to download files from my computer. He ordered that the ‘fruit’ of the seizure be returned to me. This includes films or photographs taken during the seizure. He ordered that the material not be used for any purpose outside of the litigation (as photos of the raid had been used in the scienos propaganda literature). An evidentiary hearing will be held to determine if the plaintiff has been in contempt.”
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“Capt. Howdy swears by some Dr Pepper and Jim Beam Black at the end of another lackadaisical day.”
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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.
— 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] Make room, Long Islanders: Scientology’s Gatsbys are moving in!
[TWO years ago] Mark Bunker: Scientology going nuts over upcoming Tampa Bay Times report
[THREE years ago] This is what it’s like to become a super being at Scientology’s Florida ‘mecca’
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s Brent Jones & ‘Real Water’ horror: kids needed liver transplants, attorney says
[FIVE years ago] Clearwater takes a stand against Scientology: MARK BUNKER WINS!
[SIX years ago] Scientology pitches a fit about sensible mental health reform in wake of Parkland shooting
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard considered James Bond’s nemesis SMERSH his biggest enemy
[EIGHT years ago] A HowdyCon 2017 announcement: Special guests and performances!
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s ‘personality test’ taken apart like never before, and by a former member
[TEN years ago] More proof that Scientology used the ‘R2-45’ method to intimidate enemies
[ELEVEN years ago] Here are the wealthy people keeping Scientology alive
[TWELVE years ago] ABC finally takes on Scientology…with General Hospital
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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 3,206 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,701 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,216 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,766 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,756 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,142 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,637 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,941 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,812 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,364 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,705 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,272 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,191 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,359 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,941 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,200 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,237 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,953 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,517 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,832 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,007 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,689 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,026 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,880 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,995 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,357 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,766 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,164 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,040 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,605 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,116 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,372 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,480 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 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
