TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: What happens when two Underground Bunker readers go in search of their Scientology white whale: The Ideal Org that never gets built. A picture story for our Beckettian age. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The Drug Rundown is a specific rundown as given in HCOBs and is finished as an auditing action when the pc has done all its steps. What is not finished apparently is the possible residual LSD and this is handled by a Sweat Out Program. The LSD and the body are part of the physical universe. So do not stop a pc’s auditing after he’s done the HCOB’s steps of a DRD just because he still has to do a Sweat Out Program. Go on auditing him on other actions but be sure he also completes a Sweat Program. The Sweat Program can also be done before a DRD or even Objectives but should not hold up a DRD or Objectives.” — 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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“The United States is having an awful happy time right now pouring billions into foreign aid so these dirty, filthy, fly-ridden grass huts in Balooga-uga-uga-stan can all be torn down and they can put in nice seven-bedroom ranch houses with hot and cold running politicians throughout. And they’re just having a ball. And nobody is more surprised or will be more surprised than the United States government at the end of a period of time to find out that the exact proportion of ‘hate the United States government’ and ‘love the United States government’ exists as before. They might even have gone over toward ‘hate it’ before, to the degree that they actually enforced people to live in these seven-bedroom ranch houses, see. Because you talk to a boy in Blooga-uga-uga-uga-stan and he’s liable to tell you something on this order: ‘Ah, nice house, yeah, nice house. Yeah, reeds, reeds, nice reeds, side of a river, nice reeds. Wife there to raise some yams and so forth, and nice reeds, very thin walls.’ So you say, ‘What do you mean, very thin walls?’ He’s kept crooning over this idea of these thin reeds, you know. And it doesn’t sound like this guy’s very smart. And he looks at you like you’re crazy.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 12, 1963
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“Your bonus and wherewithal to work depends on the arrival and departure of students. Flag expense is up to three and a half times to five times what it was last year, mostly in the FAO. Two recent weeks were only around three thousand and six thousand. Such an average would be just about a tenth of the total cost. The income of Flag must be such that 20 percent of the gross covers bonuses. If it does not, then there are no bonuses.” — The Commodore, June 12, 1971
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“I worked with Ron last life, and this life also before DM had him killed off. I do not trust anything of DM’s time, OK? I have met now four claiming to be Ron, but I just invited the one who is the real Ron returned. The others may also have some of the knowingness, but are not the same being.”
1998: News this week from the controversy in Germany, from Die Welt: “The Berlin Office of Constitutional Protection has apparently tried, in vain, to recruit a member of the Scientology sect as an informant. The 25 year old student revealed his secret service contact last weekend, Scientology Central stated yesterday in Munich. The Office of Constitutional Protection had mostly been interested in getting information about the leading Berlin policeman, Otto D., from the student. The 53 year old Police director has been relieved of duties from his post as Chief of the Central Location since the end of March, after an anonymous letter writer had accused him of being a Scientologist. Scientology now claims that a Constitutional Protection agent, on April 16, approached the 25 year old student, a member of the staff of the sect office on 51 Sponholz street, in the train station. There is said to have been ten more subsequent meetings, in which the man was offered money for information on Scientology. On May 15 – weeks after the official witness – he said he was offered 5,000 marks for information about Otto D. The Office of Constitutional Protection did not wish to comment upon the even yesterday. ‘As a matter of course we do not talk about the use of the secret service,’ said official representative Eberhard Kruschke.”
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“As long as you’re not a boo-hoo or a grim weeper, you’re all right in my book.”
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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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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] Why does Scientology get to hold up the Danny Masterson lawsuit in its entirety?
[TWO years ago] What’s up, Dave? Scientology still looks no closer to opening Austin and Chicago
[THREE years ago] Spend enough on Scientology, and you too can bend the universe to your will!
[FOUR years ago] What’s going on at the compound where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige?
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s new strategy for ex-members ignoring its letters: Sending out invoices
[SEVEN years ago] How to get fired from a Scientology job the easy way — a real-world example
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology and kids: L. Ron Hubbard talks about small children as ancient beings
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s ‘Battlefield Earth’ campaign, featuring Frank Frazetta and a crashed saucer
[TEN years ago] Jon Atack: Scientology’s early history is something most members don’t actually know
[ELEVEN years ago] APPEAL BRIEF: Scientology argues that our coverage of them legitimates their spying
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Doesn’t Want You to See Documents in Laura DeCrescenzo’s Forced-Abortion Lawsuit
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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 3,293 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,788 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,303 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,853 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,843 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,229 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,724 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,028 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,897 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,451 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,792 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,359 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,278 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,446 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,028 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,287 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,324 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,040 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,604 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,919 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,094 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,776 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,113 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,967 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,082 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,444 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,853 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,249 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,127 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,692 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,203 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,459 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,567 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 12, 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
