TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: As expected a local council voted yesterday to deny #Scientology a protest ban outside its UK headquarters. But what made it an even worse debacle for the church was that a common Scientology tactic backfired spectacularly: Watch this stunning moment on video. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“It should be understood that no amount of imaginary incidents can supplant the running of real incidents. The first value that this technique has—the invitation to the preclear to run avowedly imaginary incidents in his past—is to build up, the preclear’s confidence in the auditor. The preclear begins to feel that he will not be censured for indulging in fantasy. When the preclear discovers that he has an auditor who not only will listen to imagination but who encourages it, the affinity level rises and the preclear’s ability to differentiate in terms of reality will itself rise.” — 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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“To date, I think I’ve lost something in the neighborhood of four or five hundred dollars treating patients by accidentally leaving change around while treating somebody I didn’t know was a kleptomaniac — it wasn’t part of the diagnosis. And I’ve had people halfway through to Clear all of a sudden put the money back in the drawer again. That was about the first time I learned about how, as people come up the line, their honesty level comes up too.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 1, 1950
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“PERSONAL HYGIENE: Until 3 July the 1600-1745 period may be devoted to personal hygiene.” — The Commodore, July 1, 1970
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“There are some who consider that LRH standard tech is the ultimate. However that is plainly not the case to anyone who can look. We do not have OTs. LRH was the most brilliant researcher into our condition that I have ever met or even read about. He had quite a unique ability to cut to the essentials. He also had a case of his own. Thus it might make sense to look at LRH’s case to find the occluded areas of research. What might LRH not have looked at due to having his own areas of occlusion?”
1996: Time Magazine published an article about Earthlink and its Scientologist founder – Sky Dayton. Jeff Jacobsen provided a summary. “The article is entitled ‘The Cybersmear’ about Sky Dayton being tagged as a Scientologist and this hurting his business. ‘On the net, the Church of Scientology is the Antichrist’ (another Big Win for the brilliant David Miscavige!!!). However, there is this sentence; ‘There is no evidence that the church currently uses extralegal weapons against online critics.’ I think those of us who have had extralegal weapons used against us by Scientology, such as the theft of my floppy disc at a deposition, should 1) post what happened to a.r.s. and 2) email an account to Time at letters@time.com Tom Klemesrud posted portions of Earthlink’s SEC S-1 filing, in which Kevin O’Donnell and Reed Slatkin are mentioned. Both are contributors to Scientology in excess of $40,000. The filing includes a list of the largest shareholders in Earthlink. Kevin M. O’Donnell and Reed E. Slatkin are members of the Board of Directors of the Company, and each owns more than five percent of the Company’s outstanding Common Stock. Messrs. O’Donnell and Slatkin have participated in the Company’s financing since inception, as described below. In December 1994, Messrs. Slatkin and O’Donnell provided a $400,000 credit line to the Company for which each of them received warrants to purchase 150,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $.091 per share, the then fair market value of the Common Stock. In August 1995 and January 1996, Mr. Slatkin agreed to act as lessee together with the Company under equipment leases of $500,000 and $1.5 million, respectively. As consideration for this agreement, the Company issued Mr. Slatkin warrants to purchase 100,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $0.91 per share and 200,000 shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $2.42 per share. Sky D. Dayton ……………. 3,100,000 Kevin M. O’Donnell ……….. 2,234,330 Reed E. Slatkin ………….. 2,234,315 Sidney Azeez …………….. 1,044,916 Charles G Betty ………….. 89,098 Linwood A. Lacy, Jr ………. 59,620 Robert M. Kavner …………. 51,350 Robert E. Johnson ………… 20,000 Brinton O.C. Young ……….. 11,250 Barry W. Hall ……………. 12,500 David R. Tommela …………. 8,750 Storie Partners ………….. 831,197 Robert London ……………. 744,065 Gregory Abbott …………… 677,250 All directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons) ……………. 8,866,129 Included (i) options and warrants to purchases 907,525 shares of Common Stock that are exercisable within 60 days of May 31, 1996 and (ii) 647,721 shares of Common Stock owned by family members or affiliates of certain members of the group.”
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“People get distracted by the crazy convolutedness of the ‘Tech.’ At its core Scientology is simply a con game, a ‘long con.’ Hubbard just kept adding to his ‘Winchester Mystery House’ as he went along hoping the marks wouldn’t catch on. Unfortunately for D.M., Hubbard didn’t leave him much in the way of building materials.”
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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 July 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 July 7.
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 Does’ response to Scientology’s appeal brief is due July 3.
— 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] Watch out, suckers: Scientology is testing a new come-on!
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: Jon Atack on Charles Manson and Scientology
[THREE years ago] Australia gained 2 million people between 2016 and 2021 — and lost 26 Scientologists
[FOUR years ago] Defeating the ‘Satan worshippers’: Scientology’s secret war on doctors
[FIVE years ago] Who knew? Scientology Volunteer Ministers bring ‘spiritual’ aid to disasters & not just PR
[SIX years ago] Measles-free, Scientology’s cruise ship holds its annual ‘Maiden Voyage’ celebration
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology celebrates 30 years of duping wealthy people on the high seas!
[EIGHT years ago] HowdyCon: From “Squeeze My Cans,” Cathy Schenkelberg’s sexy Scientology sec-check!
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s ‘Ideal’ program really reaching at this point as it eyes a city without an org
[TEN years ago] Is David Miscavige really planning to extend Scientology’s ‘Bridge’?
[ELEVEN years ago] Rathbun: ‘Scientology never endorsed anyone where there wasn’t a clear self-interest’
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology To Turn Over 18,000 Pages of Evidence to Laura DeCrescenzo on Tuesday
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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 3,312 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,816 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,322 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,872 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,862 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,248 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,743 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,047 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,916 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,470 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,811 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,378 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,297 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,465 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,047 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,306 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,343 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,059 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,623 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,938 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,113 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,795 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,132 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,986 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,101 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,463 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,872 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,262 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,146 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,711 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,222 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,482 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,586 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 1, 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
