TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Yesterday, Leah Remini revealed an inspiring location for a bench that has been dedicated to Mike Rinder in Clearwater, Florida. And what made it even better was the memory that it jarred loose from a former Scientology slave who began his journey out on that very spot. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Chronic, which is to say, long-term illnesses cease when audited by Dianetics and then medical treatment, which was earlier ineffective. Whole classes of ‘mentally retarded’ children have been made more normal by teachers in London County Council schools using relatively unskilled Dianetics. Tiredness, unwanted sensations, bizarre pains and aches, bad hearing or sight also routinely respond to Dianetic processing. The sickness and death rate of persons who are part of Dianetic groups is only a small fraction of that of other groups.” — 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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“The art of Sec Checking is very, very well established. It’s one of the finest arts that we have. But it is to a large degree an art. It is restimulating the material to be picked up. And then picking it up….All right, now we’re going straight into the questions here, and the first question I’m going to ask you is: Do you know any communists personally?” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 27, 1963
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“Our ship has become rather shabby. We are improving that fast. We are improving our crew appearance. We are getting a lot done. We have a lot to do. We have gone through a period of floods of new recruits. They aren’t new recruits any longer. Do your own job with initiative, snap and pop and we’ll make it all the way. We right now have lots of good, able people. We have a lot of good, effective programmes. We can make a go of it all right.” — The Commodore, March 27, 1969
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“We apply LRH tech to genuinely help people and many of us have done this for decades. It seems to me that the admin here is more fixated on controversy than any real and genuine interest in helping people improve conditions in their lives or in the world. So unless I see some immediate improvement in the quality of his posts, which evidently I don’t expect, I shall be exiting this group in the near future. This group is a front for the admin’s unresolved controversies and undermining the integrity of the Independent Scientology Field and those genuine Independent Scientologists who dedicate their lives to helping people improve their lives by applying LRH principles, daily, weekly, monthly and year on year, consistently over time.”
1999: The St. Petersburg Times published two articles on the litigation history of Scientology. “When prosecutors filed charges in the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, the Clearwater-based Church of Scientology – the defendant – had one clear response: The litigation will be ‘complex’ and ‘voluminous’ and will require ‘a significant number of hearings and significant hearing time.’ Those words should echo ominously for Pinellas County prosecutors. In a 14-month, worldwide survey, the St. Petersburg Times has documented a consistent pattern of church officials’ relentlessly pursuing its critics in legal actions that some charge are designed as much to harass as to achieve legal victory. In one year alone, the Times has found, Scientology spent more than $30-million on legal and professional fees. From critics outside the church to former members who sue for fraud and abuse, when Scientology goes to court, most often it is with lawyers and legal papers that can overwhelm less wealthy opponents. In France, England, Sweden and Germany, the pattern is similar: sue the critics, sue the government, and sometimes overwhelm the judges. Whenever necessary, use private investigators to probe your opponents’ weaknesses and exploit them. In two days of interviews, officials from the Church of Scientology and five of its lawyers answered a wide range of questions in an effort to combat the church’s reputation as litigious, secretive and closed to scrutiny. Continually citing the 1993 IRS decision to grant the church tax-exempt status, they compared their operations with mainline church denominations, including the Catholic Church, and compared their litigation history with that of the St. Petersburg Times. ‘History has vindicated us on every front,’ Rathbun says. ‘We are at the turn of the millennium. A lot has changed, across the rest of the United States and the rest of the world when you say you’re from the Church of Scientology, you immediately get respect.'”
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“In a country that supposedly has 3 million-plus Scientologists they could only muster a few hundred in Portland. How much more farcical can this crap get before the remaining few wake up and screw?”
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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] As David Miscavige restored Scientology’s events, here are the celebs who showed up
[TWO years ago] DA wants Toronto woman to testify as fifth accuser in Danny Masterson retrial
[THREE years ago] Scientology wants you to forget Laura D got her files because 259 ‘ministers’ had access to them
[FOUR years ago] Why the upcoming ‘prelim’ is a nightmare for Danny Masterson — and for Scientology
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s founder: ‘WE are going UP while the world is coming down!’
[SIX years ago] The Mike Rinder bobblehead: Turning the tables on Scientology’s smeary harassment
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s secret vaults get their star turn on the new TV network, and it’s nutty!
[EIGHT years ago] Reza Aslan’s ‘Believer’ episode about indie Scientology lived down to all expectations
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s European mouthpiece speaks at DC event honoring Marco Rubio
[TEN years ago] ‘Going Clear’: Spanky Taylor on John Travolta, Priscilla Presley, and escaping Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Belgium will try two Scientology organizations and 10 Scientologists for fraud
[TWELVE years ago] LEAKED AUDIO: David Miscavige Declares Scientology’s Golden Age at LRH Birthday Event
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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 3,216 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,711 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,226 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,776 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,766 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,152 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,647 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,951 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,822 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,374 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,715 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,282 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,201 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,369 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,951 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,210 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,247 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,963 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,527 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,842 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,017 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,699 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,036 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,890 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,005 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,367 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,776 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,174 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,050 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,615 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,126 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,382 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,490 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 27, 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
