TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: One thing we have learned is that there are two words you never want to see one after the other: ‘Scientologist’ and ‘chiropractor.’ Now, two Scientology chiro grifters we’ve watched over the years are suddenly in a LOT more trouble after thumbing their noses at court. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The New Era Dianetics Full Pc Program is itself. The Expanded Dianetics Program is itself. They are NOT mixed. The one quite naturally precedes the other. New Era Dianetics fully completed paves the way for smooth, rapid, spot-on running of Expanded Dianetics on the pc. On those pcs who have already had many hours of Dianetics, numerous chains will have been erased with somatics and/or illnesses blown and disabilities handled, and these gains are not to be invalidated. Dianetics properly applied has always brought about fantastic results. New Era Dianetics, however, with its new Preassessment procedure and its new rundowns tailored to find and handle any unhandled Dianetic aspect of the case, will result in undreamed of gains for old and new pcs alike. It is already doing so.” — 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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“It’s very funny, you know: bodies have machinery laid into them from other times. It’s quite interesting. You’ll find some preclear wallowing around one time or another: ‘Well, look what I have done to this body. Look at the horrible machinery and things I have set up.’ Then he wonders why it runs much faster and gets much more solid. Well, some thetan that had the thing on the genetic line way back when has already installed a tremendous number of items. You didn’t install everything that’s wrong with your body.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 5, 1957
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“MOVIES AND BOOKS: I have a movie to rewrite and some book work to do. I wish all hands would get the orgs off my desk. One blessing: I am not having to stir the crew’s soup. Thank you Service Div FSO. I think you’re great! The FAO has no top brass yet. That would help.” — The Commodore, July 5, 1971
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“From December 3, 1995, to January 7, 1996, I recovered the memories of several in-between lives incidents. I was a free being. I spent most of my time just being a free being without being in a body at all. There were times, however, when I was temporarily placed in a body at implant stations. In these cases I would eventually get free of the body and continue on my merry way as a free being. As you will see, the difference here on Earth is that there is a SYSTEM to create amnesia and keep a being trapped in a seemingly endless, revolving door CYCLE of re-embodiments. Free beings are invisible to the naked eye. However, they can create and project a visible form or energy, which can be seen by the naked eye. This sometimes occurs in the ‘ghost’ phenomenon. It is not difficult to locate the position of a ‘ghost’ (i.e., a being without a body) in a room, and one can even communicate with it. I have personally experienced this phenomenon. Cats — as you may already have observed — are very good at spotting beings.”
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2000: Hartley Patterson and Dave Bird protested the Birmingham, England org this week. “Jens, Dave Bird and myself were joined by four local SPs for a peaceful picket. I chatted briefly to one handler who promised to send me proof of the Church of Scientology’s 8 million members and continuing expansion. It was evidently a good day for canvassing, besides the body routers there was Oxfam, Animal Rights and several others. Roland’s new leaflet has sides three and four on how to get money back and get family out, with contact details for ‘Escape’, ‘Catalyst’, and ‘Leaving Scientology’. I had a considerable amount of old & new style leaflets. We set up with placards and leaflets around the top of Ethel Street; no amplification, but my voice carried pretty well in a no-traffic area. We kept it basic down to ‘scam operating in this area, don’t be fooled by the personality test clipboarders, it’s a scam to extract money’. Our leaflets were well received, and quite a few people stopped for a chat. Over time the phones must have been ringing to summon various other body-routers into the Org, as by the time we finished at 1600 the number had just increased to four with their own counter-leaflets.”
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“It’s 10:30 and I’m enjoying a fine bottle of rot gut vodka so I’m in no mood for deciphering new Scientology acronyms.”
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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:
— 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 was filed June 3. Oral arguments are probably next.
— 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] The shocking podcast about Neil Gaiman, and our participation in it
[TWO years ago] Steve Cannane’s statement as publisher settles ‘Deep Sleep’ lawsuit over his book ‘Fair Game’
[THREE years ago] Of course Scientology works — it has graphs and charts and stuff!
[FOUR years ago] Take Scientology’s quiz to see if you qualify for the Sea Org and its billion-year contract!
[FIVE years ago] ‘Scientology is dead’ says the ex-con claiming he’s the reincarnated L. Ron Hubbard
[SIX years ago] More rich donors propping up Scientology are revealed in a church magazine
[SEVEN years ago] Shocking molestation claims inside Scientology leaking out before ‘Aftermath’ episode
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s all-hands-on-deck gathering in the Valley caught in pics
[NINE years ago] Battle for a Scientology soul: Kazakh 20-year-old ‘prisoner’ is back home, but will she stay?
[TEN years ago] LIVE REPORTS: Scientology leader David Miscavige opens “Ideal Org” in Colombia today
[ELEVEN years ago] John Joseph, 1955-2014: A Scientologist, and a friend to the Underground Bunker
[TWELVE years ago] Has Leah Remini Left the Church of Scientology?
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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 3,316 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,820 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,326 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,876 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,866 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,252 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,747 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,051 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,920 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,474 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,815 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,382 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,301 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,469 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,051 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,310 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,347 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,063 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,627 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,942 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,117 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,799 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,136 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,990 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,105 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,467 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,876 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,266 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,150 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,715 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,226 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,486 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,590 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 5, 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
