TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Linkin Park was criticized for hiring Scientologist Emily Armstrong after the band’s previous singer, Chester Bennington, had struggled with depression before ending his life. And now, Armstrong provides a reminder of how Scientology feels about the mental health profession. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Ideas build up which halt the use of Dianetics, such as ‘Once you have a floating needle on engrams you don’t run them anymore.’ That’s silly. The Dianetic end phenomena is postulate off, F/N and VGIs. This means that the chain has blown. That full EP can then be called the end of that chain. But not the end of Dianetics on the case. I am not trying to make anyone wrong by reintroducing the real use of Dianetics. I myself had not realized how separate and vital it was as a technology until recently. I was engaged for many years researching and completing Scientology. I had not noticed and had not said that Dianetics must be preserved and used in all cases of psychosomatic illness or in physical suffering. Yet, during all this time when I had to handle illness, I did not use Scientology. I used good old Dianetics.” — 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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“We pick up somebody. Let’s say he’s a Marine captain or something, and we’re auditing him. He’s been a Marine years ago. Obviously, this person is no mystic. This person is no spiritualist. He knows nothing about these things. Let’s audit him, and get through, and so forth. And we audit him for about five hours, and he’s making very slow progress. And he’s liable to ask you at the end of the five hours if you really think his guardian angel approves of the techniques you’re using. Don’t be too alarmed if you hear such a reaction, because there’s practically 100 percent of the populace, one time or another, have been mixed up with spirits, spiritualism, mysticism or any one of the allied lines by which man has sought truth and has gotten booby-trapped. This Marine, you find out, served a long hitch in Santo Domingo. And all the time he was in Santo Domingo he was talked to continually by a mamaloi. Otherwise, this boy’s been sane ever since. He receives all of his directions from a witch doctor, or a witch. Yeah, he’s been ordering troops around on the advice of a witch doctor for years. This is not uncommon. Because a thing is not spoken about is no reason it doesn’t exist or isn’t known. And that’s a good rule for you to go on.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 31, 1954
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“My thanks to S. Moreau, R. Savage, Gerry Armstrong, and H. Harrison for helping on a voluntary basis cleaning up Fwd Tween Decks and Storage and mest moving in Hold 1 last night. L.H. 2 has been cleaned and restowed. Anyone littering or enmesting the area of any hold space will be dealt with severely by Ethics. These spaces (as well as all ship spaces) must be kept neat, clean and secure.” — Capt W.B. Robertson D/Captain FSO, March 31, 1971
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“You kind of just put body thetans in their place. See, they come at you full of light, sometimes as powerful beings. THAT LIGHT IS YOURS! Tell them, and take it back. And it kind of spins around and they blow as entities. Anyway, they do blow, it will vary from case to case. I never have any difficulty with them. Maybe a bit of SRT in the past somewhere can kick it all sideways? I don’t know, I just keep my eyes on the horizon. It’s true there are lots of very interesting areas to get sidetracked into. But this is the way to failure in solo auditing. Keep on the path and audit it off, don’t go into something because it seems exciting. That can hurt you and get you pretty mixed up. I keep in mind all I want is charge off. Between sessions that helped me stay focused. It doesn’t mean I don’t write my own side notes, cognitions, and odd phenomena experienced on the way. But I never let it pull me off just getting charge off. You can look at the whole thing afterwards, as there are many, many cogs to be had. But getting charge off gives them.”
1996: An anonymous person this week posted the partially recovered contents of a floppy disk he found in Tampa. “important symbolic step towards Clearing the Planet, the Church of Scientology announced today it has obtained regulatory approval for a new satellite television network. Transmission is expected to begin in the the third quarter of 1996. The new satellite service, tentatively called KSWN (for ‘Keeping Scientology Working Network’), will broadcast Scientology and Dianetics news and technical programming 24 hours a day on two transponder channels. The second, scrambled, channel will consist of Scientology and Dianetics course material and training films, many of them produced by the late L.Ron Hubbard himself. Programming on the scrambled channel will be available to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis.
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“Hubbard thought ‘1984’ was a How-To manual.”
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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, sentencing scheduled for April 4.
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. Leah’s appeal brief due June 3.
— 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. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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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] Yet another celebrity ‘first’ spotted in Scientology event press releases
[TWO years ago] Scientology propaganda is the best thing ever, and we are here for it
[THREE years ago] Hanan Islam, 62: Faced felony counts for insurance scam run out of Scientology clinic
[FOUR years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 4: The LAPD
[FIVE years ago] Mark Bunker, now as city councilman, confronts issues with Scientology on day one
[SIX years ago] Scientology is putting Ideal Orgs in every country where it operates — except one
[SEVEN years ago] A Scientologist is running for lieutenant governor in Nevada — and it’s who you probably suspect
[EIGHT years ago] Jonny Jacobsen: The tweets about Scientology that got a comedian in hot water
[NINE years ago] Reason Rally 2016 in Washington DC: The Underground Bunker wants to see you there!
[TEN years ago] Can you help French prosecutors find these witnesses to the death of a Scientologist?
[ELEVEN years ago] Paris elects its first female mayor — and you have to see her record on Scientology!
[TWELVE years ago] Easter Sunday Funnies — Also: Our SMERSH Madness Championship!
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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 3,220 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,715 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,230 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,780 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,770 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,156 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,651 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,955 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,826 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,378 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,719 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,286 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,205 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,373 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,955 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,214 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,251 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,967 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,531 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,846 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,021 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,703 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,040 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,894 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,009 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,371 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,780 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,178 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,054 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,619 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,130 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,386 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,494 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 31, 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
