TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“In my research, I found it unreasonable that a person would be hard to audit just because he had exteriorized and had re-interiorized. For he has obviously done just that at every death and birth and must have done so hundreds of billions of times. So why should a recent exteriorization then make him hard to audit? Yet it did. My asking of that question was the first breakthrough. The rest soon followed.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1979
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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 results with psychotics at the present time are pretty fair. Of course, psychotics are definitely in the hands of psychiatry — they are actually wards of the state — and we are trying very hard to keep those psychotics in the hands of psychiatry where they belong. After all, psychiatry is organized to handle that problem. Psychiatrists have been open-minded about Dianetics for quite a while, but recently I was over at the state institution in St. Louis and the chief of the institution was running a young lady. I pitched in and gave him a hand. She had been schizophrenic for a number of years and she lay down on the couch insane; we worked on her for about two hours, hit the key engram in the case and she got off the couch sane. So the psychiatrists are no longer open-minded at Missouri State.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 10, 1950
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“I don’t think anyone believed the FAO had delivered that many training and processing hours in the last few months. Over 147,600 hours of training and over 12,000 hours of Class X auditing! On FEBCs alone. 91 fired to the US. 31 to other areas. This pgm is only a few months old. Astonishing stats! We work.” — The Commodore, August 10, 1971
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“There are accounts of people under the Philadelphia Experiment that went to the future to 500 and 700 years into the future of Earth. Their accounts are that the government was run by an Artificial Intelligence Computer created by a North American tribe with ET connections. So, apparently the independent field and Ron’s Orgs should be working on verifying this data and incorporate computers into management. Computers have already been incorporated into Scientology Tech anyway. The fact remains that the world government of this planet is going to have a computerized management system. Better it be run by Scientologists than wogs.”
2001: Bob Minton posted a letter he wrote to the Salvation Army in Clearwater, which administers his parole program. Bob was placed on probation after being found in violation of an anti-protesting restraining order. Scientology is complaining to the Salvation Army about firearms Bob owned earlier this year. “On the first day that I walked into the Salvation Army Correctional Services and met with my probation supervisor, I informed her that I owned several firearms that were kept at my home in New Hampshire. Ms. Muniz indicated to me that this was ‘no problem’ with regard to the general probation condition of ‘you will neither carry nor own weapons without first securing the consent of the probation supervisor,’ since the infraction for which I was on probation did not involve firearms and the firearms were over 1,500 miles away from Florida. On June 26, Connie Dugan informed me through Sharon Young that I was required to register my firearms in New Hampshire with the chief of police in Sandown, my hometown. I called Connie Dugan directly and informed her that there was no provision in the state of New Hampshire for the registration of firearms unless one is applying for a license to carry a concealed weapon. Ms. Dugan subsequently informed me that I was now required to register my firearms with SACS. In response to Ms. Dugan’s demand on June 26, which amounts to changing the terms of my probation, I told her that I no longer owned the firearms and had transferred ownership of them to Stacy S. Brooks. Therefore, I ‘neither carry nor own weapons,’ and consequently I am under no further obligation to provide anything concerning previous firearms ownership to SACS. My attorney has tried to deal with this matter by attempting to have the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit mediate in this matter. The result of that attempt is unsatisfactory to me and I am instructing my attorney NOT to submit any list of weapons that I owned prior to June 26, 2001, that being the date I informed Connie Dugan I do not own any weapons, to SACS. I trust that my position is clear enough on this matter that SACS can act intelligently despite how much pressure is brought to bear on your office by the Scientology misfits.”
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“People spend years, decades, stuck on OT 7. It drives them insane, like George Baillie or poor Biggi Reichert.”
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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 August 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 December 1.
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 was due July 3, extension granted.
— 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] French and English voices decry Tom Cruise stunt planned for Olympics
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini’s lawsuit: Why Scientology will always smear and stalk its ‘enemies’
[THREE years ago] Special series starting today: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[FOUR years ago] Judge in Danny Masterson case quashes ‘fishing expedition’ done for Scientology’s benefit
[FIVE years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 24: Rebecca Dobkin and other low-level PI grunts
[SIX years ago] Scientology in a nutshell: The lights are on, but nobody’s home
[SEVEN years ago] Colombian senator asks defense minister to investigate Scientology over medal scandal
[EIGHT years ago] Bogus court documents, compliant search engines, and Scientology-style rehabs
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s richest couple buys ‘Holy City,’ a California ghost town and former cult site
[TEN years ago] EXCLUSIVE: Tom Cruise Scientology video shows the actor praising the church — in Spanish!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Sea Org full regalia edition!
[TWELVE years ago] Jon Atack and a Special Guest Wrestle with Gerry Armstrong’s Legal Scientology Nightmare
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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 3,351 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,855 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,361 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,911 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,901 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,287 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,782 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,086 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,955 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,509 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,850 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,421 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,337 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,504 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,086 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,345 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,382 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,098 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,662 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,977 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,152 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,834 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,171 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,025 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,140 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,502 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,911 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,301 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,185 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,750 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,261 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,521 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,625 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 10, 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
