An appellate attorney looks at Leah Remini’s response to Scientology’s appeal

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Yesterday we posted the response and cross-appeal filed by Leah Remini’s attorneys, answering Scientology’s appeal brief in Leah’s lawsuit against the church. Leah’s response seems thorough and well written. But is it good lawyering? We turned once again an expert for help. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“A true psychotic can be brilliant or stupid, competent or incompetent. It is his general motive or purpose that determines whether or not he is insane or sane. Famous psychotics like Napoleon, Ivan the Terrible, Stalin and Hitler were all quite brilliant yet wound up destroying everything in sight including their own people. They had a destructive basic purpose. Every psychotic has one. It is usually covert, hidden, but in full play against his unsuspecting friends. The sole difference in motive is whether it is destructive or constructive. Everyone has a basic purpose. The psychotic has a destructive one.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1977

 
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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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Source Code

“I notice now that there’s a lot of doubt and wonder about ethics and so on, here and there and so forth. What is ethics? I just heard one from Chicago, just before I came to the lecture and so forth. ‘Scientology is to help, not to punish people.’ How the hell would he know? He’s never been helped by it. He’d made a lot of dough with it, but he’s never had any tone arm action I’ve ever been able to find out. Suppressive. So we are developing, simply, systems by which to handle the public at large, is all we are doing. And right now it goes in with a thud against some staff members and so forth and students collide with it and that sort of thing. Good. Get used to it. Because the action is actually intended for the public, don’t you see? But until you have a familiarity with law and order amongst yourselves and some experience with how it works and what seems unjust and what seems just and that sort of thing, you never can grab ahold of it. Now, you can’t go nonchalantly knocking off the United States government or something like that without at least issuing an HCO suppressive order, you know?” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 8, 1965

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“SHIP CONDITION: If the ship’s company is ever to get out of Non E it will be by 1. Wearing ones own hat. 2. Insisting the other fellows wears his. I tried for 2 months to single hand the ship up in morale and efficiency. I got too many problems (bonus errors, FP flaps in return). Now you guys dig yourselves out and put it right. I didn’t assign the condition. The ship did.” — The Commodore, June 8, 1970

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The problem is that the bank, your body, your environment of BTs, clusters, etc., are FILLED with an ENORMOUS amount of pictures of things that happened, or were created or stolen etc. They are all exquisitely constructed down to the most amazing detail, which is misconstrued as memory which it may be, but NOT YOURS. Misconstruing another’s picture as yours is a wrong indication and is FAR FAR worse than misconstruing your own pictures as someone else’s. So the best thing is if you don’t explicitly recognize a picture as yours, then it probably isn’t, and just enjoy it as someone else’s photo album or life play. That’s the fun part of the bank, wandering around in OTHER’s blood. Just like the movies. Even if in the dream or the incident you seem to BE the person having the experience, you can do that too, but if you don’t recognize it, then it’s just you being them for a moment and separate from it after the fun is done. Your bank is a HUGE movie theater of the Cosmic ALL, enjoy it, then leave it for next session or another time. I can’t tell you how many girl friends I have ‘had,’ don’t recognize a single one of them, but god are they gorgeous, and all they want to do is, well whatever. Not like on Earth where vaginas have evolved teeth and venom.”

Past is Prologue

2001: Keith Henson was released from a Canadian jail this week. He had been arrested for allegedly entering Canada without disclosing a conviction in California for interfering with a religion, Scientology. Now Magazine published an article on Keith prior to his release. “It’s an unshaven and frazzled-looking Keith Henson who shuffles into the converted jail cell used as a hearing room Thursday morning at the Metro West Detention Centre. He’s in broad-rims, jail-issue orange jumpsuit and blue canvas runners that he’s wearing like flip-flops because they’re too small for his feet. A flap of grey hair is swooshed over a bald spot on the top of his head. He looks like he should be out in a backyard somewhere pruning roses, but it turns out that Henson is on the lam, wanted for failing to show for a sentencing hearing in his native California back on May 16. He was convicted on a charge of ‘making threats to interfere with freedom to enjoy a constitutional privilege’ i.e., the right of Scientologists to practise their religion. A misdemeanour. The foot-high stack of documents sitting in a file in front of Irene Dicaire, the senior lawyer with Immigration who will be making the case against Henson’s release, doesn’t paint a flattering portrait of the activist. ‘There’s a certain psychological profile that emerges,’ Dicaire says. ‘As far as we understand, Mr. Henson is an explosives expert who has threatened to target sites involving the Church of Scientology. ‘It’s not known at this time,’ Dicaire adds ominously, ‘if this may involve any Canadian targets.’ There may be information coming on that later, but the cop at 52 Division with the supposedly incriminating evidence is on vacation and won’t be back until Monday. It’s all sounding a little fishy to Henson’s lawyer, Joel Sandaluk. If the threat were serious enough, presumably, the police would have acted on it by now. His client hasn’t been charged with anything, yet now Dicaire is asking the adjudicator to detain Henson on evidence that hasn’t been presented and is not properly before the board. ‘This is all very vaporous,’ says Sandaluk. He’s trying his best not to sound too dismissive about the ‘bomb threats’ – musings on the Internet about the ease with which an ICBM could be aimed at Scientology – that Henson’s alleged to have made. ‘This alleged threat is so completely grandiose as to require a complete suspension of disbelief,’ Sandaluk says. He makes a persuasive argument. But it’s an open-and-shut case. Henson is wanted in the U.S. And while even the adjudicator in this case agrees he may not be a threat to the public, she rules that Henson poses a flight risk. Release denied. The official police line is that Keith Henson was picked up because he failed to tell immigration authorities when he entered Canada that he was facing a sentencing hearing in the U.S. But it’s clear that Scientology had something to do with the arrest. ‘Yeah, we called the cops,’ says Buttnor. Detective constable Phil Glavin, the officer in charge of Henson’s arrest, says it’s not at all unusual for heavily armed police to pick up someone who’s wanted for a misdemeanour offence. In any event, it’s not his job to determine how real a danger Henson poses. He’s wanted. He was arrested. ‘We hunt people down that are fugitives in Canada,’ Glavin says. ‘It doesn’t matter what you’ve done. You’re wanted. You don’t belong in Canada. You’re arrestable. We arrest you.’ Henson says he’s planning to file a claim for refugee status in Canada. He calls the allegations against him ‘ridiculous,’ and says Scientology’s attempts to silence its Internet critics are to him ‘as vile and disturbing as somebody coming into town and burning your newspaper down.’ Time in jail is not going to keep him from criticizing Scientology. ‘This is a serious fight.'”

 
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Random Howdy

“Tom Cruise is royalty and royalty can’t just marry whoever they like. They have obligations to king and subjects alike.”

 
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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 June 13.
— ‘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 June 16.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud. Sentenced to 7 years in prison.

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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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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] Cash call! The wealthy donors keeping Scientology above water in 2024
[TWO years ago] Judge Olmedo’s ruling about the Scientology leak: The whole enchilada
[THREE years ago] Claim: Scientology is lying about who visited the most destruction on psychiatry in Russia
[FOUR years ago] Ecclesiastical cardio: David Miscavige spotted jogging on the beach in Clearwater
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s obsession with City Councilman Mark Bunker is truly off the charts
[SIX years ago] Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard on nuclear radiation: It’s a state of mind
[SEVEN years ago] Here’s proof that Scientology members have to be forced to watch Scientology TV
[EIGHT years ago] Federal judge urged to ignore Scientology whining and get on with arbitration disaster
[NINE years ago] More signs of the apocalypse for the Church of Scientology’s bitter-enders
[TEN years ago] Westward, Ho! Hey, Bunkerites, we need your help, and fast
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Tom Cruise history lesson edition!
[TWELVE years ago] Jon Atack on Why It’s So Hard To Recover From Scientology

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 8, 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone