TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology tries so hard to get you to give up your current life, turn your back on family and friends, and start a new journey as an indentured servant to David Miscavige and L. Ron Hubbard! Is that asking so much? We have the latest staff recruitment video for your perusal! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Recovery from disease under treatment is speeded by Dianetic auditing. Where the incident of the break is, with any chain, run out, a broken limb will heal (by X-ray evidence) in two instead of six weeks. Some patients who are not responding to medical treatment who are then given as little as a Touch Assist will then be found responsive to the medical treatment. An auditor giving the person a Dianetic session will more or less ensure that the medical treatment will now work. A person who is accident prone when audited usually loses this unwanted characteristic. Many ‘insane’ recover from their symptoms when given proper medical treatment, rest, no harassment and then good mild Dianetic processing. They become and remain normal people without relapse.” — 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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“Look, you know that a thetan has been sitting around here for a couple of hundred trillion years. You realize that there have been psychiatrists all over the track? I mean, you probably didn’t realize that it was a stupid universe, but it is. Been psychiatrists all over the track; they’ve been electric shocking people. Well, that certainly should have upset the GPMs, shouldn’t it have? Huh?” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 26, 1963
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“THE BEACH: Cagliari’s old town (mostly bombed out in WW II) is reputed to be more expensive and a bit ‘clip.’ The new town is over the hill and is reputed to be fairer in price. These shore people will give you bad money exchange rates if you don’t watch it.” — March 26, 1969
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“I see there’s a whole bunch of new people here. If you’re serious about Scientology, I’d recommend you find a good indie group (there’s lots, just type in independent Scientology) and leave this one. The admin is NOT a Scientologist, and he will ruin your case. Please trust me on that, he posts things contrary to what Scientologists actually believe in, confidential cognitions, and is increasingly more antagonistic towards Scientology, Scientologists, and LRH. I’m only making this post for your own good.”
1998: Following the recent Boston Herald series on Scientology, the St. Petersburg Times carried an article on Scientology’s investigation of the writer of the Herald series, Joseph Mallia. “Church officials say their lawyers have hired a firm to investigate Joseph Mallia, a Boston Herald reporter who recently wrote a five-part series that raised questions about church practices. The investigation conflicts with statements made in 1994 by a top church official Kurt Weiland, who handles international legal affairs for Scientology. During an interview at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the St. Petersburg Times asked Weiland and church president Heber C. Jentzsch about the practice of investigating reporters. Weiland responded, ‘First of all, we don’t do that.’ He added: ‘There’s no institutional or organized campaign or effort or action ongoing to go after a reporter.’ Asked this week to explain the contradiction, Weiland said the church deals with adverse news reports on a case-by-case basis. He said Mallia’s articles were inaccurate and the church was trying to uncover what ‘sinister motive’ he had and what ‘vested interest’ he was working for. ‘It’s not a personal thing,’ Weiland said. ‘Every time a reporter steps out of his way to create damage to the church…then, of course, it’s gloves off.’ ‘No one I know goes so far as to hire outsiders to harass or try to get intimidating data on critics,’ said the Rev. Robert W. Thornburg, dean of March Chapel at Boston University and an expert on destructive religious practices. ‘Scientology is the only crowd that does that.'”
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“So the owner of a gay bar took money from the Church of Scientology? AAAAGGHH! Now I’m really in a bad mood.”
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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:
— 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] Leah Remini’s proposed changes to Scientology lawsuit show what she’s really fighting for
[TWO years ago] Mark Bunker: Meeting an old Scientology friend on the streets of Clearwater
[THREE years ago] ‘Oh gosh’: Judge views alleged rape filmed on phone of Scientology private eye
[FOUR years ago] ABC gives platform to Scientologist named one of 12 biggest sources of vaccine disinfo
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s bizarre response to the pandemic: Handing out sketchy cleaning products
[SIX years ago] Tom Cruise’s son Connor to marry Scientology staffer in the church’s Florida mecca
[SEVEN years ago] Leah Remini is still being stalked, and now Scientology has turned to an ex-NYPD detective
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s gateway drug: The personality test and what it’s actually telling you
[NINE years ago] Talking Scientology with actor and podcaster Ethan McKinley
[TEN years ago] ‘Going Clear’: Sara Goldberg on how Scientology turned her own daughter against her
[ELEVEN years ago] Jillian Schlesinger: How I got into Scientology, and how I got out
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology’s Version of Family Values: The Group is Everything
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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 3,215 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,710 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,225 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,775 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,765 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,151 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,646 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,950 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,821 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,373 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,714 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,281 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,200 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,368 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,950 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,209 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,246 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,962 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,526 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,841 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,016 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,698 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,035 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,889 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,004 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,366 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,775 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,173 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,049 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,614 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,125 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,381 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,489 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 26, 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
