TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’re hearing from a lot of you about the surprising moment playing out in Clearwater, Florida, where the council faces an historic vote tomorrow. We have more thoughts from people who actually worked with Scientology leader David Miscavige, and also a warning from the past. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Probably the most covert and vicious crime in auditing is falsifying an auditing report. At first glance, to someone who is trying to PR himself as an auditor or to escape consequences of session goofs, this might not seem to be the huge crime that it is. When an auditing report is falsified, means of repairing the pc are denied, out tech and a need for restudy or redrilling of materials is covered up, out tech is spread about and the repute of the org and Scientology are at risk.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1976
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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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“You ever been on the Pacific Ocean? You look an awful long distance on the Pacific Ocean and you’ll find space, you know. The speculative horizon is like that. It’s way out, man. Boy, I mean we’ve collided with data which is highly debatable as to whether it will be popular or unpopular. And I’m afraid I have to go along with the first foundation decision I made, back in 1950 when they had that board meeting and told me I wasn’t to research on any more past lives. I don’t think they ever did get that end of the building back together again. The bricks are still cracked. And I said, well, psychology and other activities in the field of the mind have always had a large eye on popularity. And they would actually throw away materials which didn’t agree with things. They’d throw away the things which didn’t agree. And that’s why they’ve not come up with any answers. They consult this thing of the popularity of a datum, the acceptability of a datum and have therefore compromised truth. So you either accept truth or popularity.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 14, 1963
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“Smersh operates on false data and has not changed his Situation Analysis in a whole score of years and does not vary tactics to fit new situations. That is valuable information. A general who fought that way would be busy fighting the 151st Bavarian Light Infantry as they were deployed at Niems in 1870! Since then they’ve been disbanded, forgotten, and that trench has been empty for 80 years. Yet such a general would have his whole army concentrating on it! Viewing national governments through this developed logic tech applied to their data and their idea of the situation reveals them to be crazy. And gives one the reason for both war and failing societies. No wonder they end up shooting people.” — The Commodore, May 14, 1970
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“I’m not sure if LRH agrees with the CIA and IRS running Scientology after 1982. There was a takeover. That’s a turning point. That’s not real Scientology after 1982 and I no longer ‘felt’ LRH on lines after that. Of course I could grow my own food, but why be forced to grow food just because a fucking pack of R6 zombies don’t see the poison in their diet? And more, they follow R6 commands to lynch you if you happen to ‘open their eyes’ to see. Sorry, but it’s some three years now I can’t get my body clean of this fucking R6 zombie food. Nice you have your own RPF (mest work). You won’t be running to LA to climb the barbed wire at Hemet to pound on ‘The Hole’ to meet Heber to share some rice and beans.”
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1997: Rod Proctor reported that Scientology sent a letter to his editor in response to a posting to a.r.s. “I received not long ago a three-page letter from Scientology’s Public Affairs Director, Karin Pouw, taking issue with opinions that I — acting off-duty and as a private citizen — had expressed in the alt.religion.scientology newsgroup some weeks back. It was jarring enough that Scientology had gone to the effort to discover both where I work and my specific job title. But something even more chilling was included at the end of that letter: A CC notice to the editor of my newspaper — my top boss. Their intent was quite clear: Let his boss know what he’s writing (in his off time as a private citizen) and he’ll choose to shut up. [I]t seems to me that the ongoing tactics of Scientology pose a greater threat to that free exchange than anything Congress has dreamed up. The tactics of Scientology — aimed personally and individually at our very livelihoods — can be far more effective at silencing dissent than anything government could possibly come up with.”
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“The FDA could have busted Scientology a thousand times over for medical fraud if they simply sent in undercover agents wired for sound and vision to sign up for courses. Scientology registrars will promise any and all medical cures as long as you show them the money. The government is an ass.”
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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 May 14.
— ‘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 May 12.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Pre-sentencing conference was held April 4. Sentencing hearing scheduled for May 5.
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. 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] Val Ross: When you’re a Scientology OT, and you have to fight cancer
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: Kate Bornstein is plugged into our Danny Masterson retrial coverage
[FOUR years ago] Why is Scientology desperate for a tiny plot in Clearwater? Let us draw you a picture.
[FIVE years ago] A look inside a Scientology org as it prepares to reopen for the public
[SIX years ago] Why the quarantine is such a fail: Scientology ship was set up as an interrogation factory
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s reclusive ‘president,’ 82-year-old Heber Jentzsch, tells a niece he’s doing fine
[EIGHT years ago] With its Mexico City project halted, Scientology fans out across town to promote its pablum
[NINE years ago] Ron Miscavige shakes off Scientology smears, rockets to #1 in ebooks
[TEN years ago] Guest post: Five extreme examples of hypocrisy in Scientology’s ‘Freedom’ magazine
[ELEVEN years ago] Falling death of a Russian Scientologist in Clearwater: The police investigation
[TWELVE years ago] How to Confront and Shatter Suppression, Scientology Style!
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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 3,264 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,759 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,274 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,824 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,814 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,200 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,695 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,999 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,868 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,422 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,763 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,330 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,249 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,417 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,999 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,258 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,295 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,011 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,575 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,890 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,065 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,747 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,084 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,938 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,053 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,415 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,824 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,220 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,098 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,663 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,174 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,430 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,538 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 14, 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
