TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Leigh Silverton is a clinical psychologist and Underground Bunker reader who took special interest in Saturday’s bonus story about how Scientology broke up the first two marriages of Tom Cruise. We’re anxious to see how our audience react to her insights. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“If it isn’t written it isn’t true. If it’s written, read it. If you can’t understand it, clarify it. If you can’t clarify it, clear the Mis-Us. If the Mis-Us won’t clear, query it. Get it validated as a written order. Force others to read it. IF IT CAN’T BE RUN THROUGH AS ABOVE IT’S FALSE!” — 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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“You want to know what is wrong with the fellow? Let’s say that when he is very young somebody decides to take his tonsils out….Later on he meets some doctor who says, ‘Well, the reason you have ulcers is because … ?’ Actually, it was because one of the doctors during the tonsillectomy — this fellow’s earlier colleague — had an elbow in the patient’s stomach. I think doctors knew this all the time, by the way. I am sure they had this all worked out. The doctor leans his elbow on this young would-be writer’s stomach, and he grinds this elbow down while he is holding the patient. Later on the fellow has to be operated on for ulcers. You can make more money this way and send your children to better colleges.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 22, 1951
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“Sea Org members are highly acceptable to one another. Where evidence seems to be to the contrary it is an urgency to uphold the standards of the group which after all has a very arduous and important job to do.” — The Commodore, October 22, 1970
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“Ron’s invention of auditing: quite probably the single greatest advance in the history of mankind. And it works because life comes before, and is senior to, the physical universe; auditing confirms this. Life errs when thinking the physical universe has domain over it. Auditing undoes this fallacy.”
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1997: Gerry Armstrong reported that Scientology is threatening the producers of a UK TV documentary on L. Ron Hubbard. “As is probably well known 3BM Television has produced for Channel 4 a documentary biography of Hubbard. Scientology representatives have been threatening Channel 4 to prevent the airing of the program. The threat is of obtaining an injunction based on the charge that 3BM induced me to breach the 1986 settlement ‘agreement’ and the Marin County California judgment which prohibit me from speaking about Scientology, Hubbard and so forth. 3BM did not induce me to breach any agreement or judgment. The fact is I am willing to communicate to anyone about Scientology or Hubbard and my experiences therewith at any time and require no inducement. But even if I had been induced, the ‘agreement’ was obtained illegally; and even if it had not been obtained illegally it is illegal on its face.”
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“So when your certificates get canceled, whose job is it to track down all those engrams and body thetans and tell them they need to re-implant and re-attach themselves?”
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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:
— 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. Respondent briefs are due September 2.
— 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 submitted July 30. Scientology’s reply due October 20.
— 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] Danny Masterson attorney Cliff Gardner gets a month extension for appeal brief
[TWO years ago] Bruce Hines: Scientology made David Mayo out to be a villain, but I knew the real man
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Looking back at the first week of testimony in the Danny Masterson trial
[FOUR years ago] Could a Scientologist be the next governor of Nevada?
[FIVE years ago] Could Marsy’s Law foil Scientology’s attempt to force rape victims into ‘arbitration’?
[SIX years ago] DAVID MISCAVIGE, YOU HAVE BEEN SERVED
[SEVEN years ago] A call to arms for Scientology voters: ‘Religious freedom’ vs. the evil psychs!
[EIGHT years ago] Wally Hanks, Scientology ranch terror recently portrayed on ‘Leah Remini,’ dies at 70
[NINE years ago] Who was responsible when Scientology finally paid Lawrence Wollersheim a lot of thin dimes?
[TEN years ago] A Scientology childhood: What it’s like to grow up under the Hubbard spell
[ELEVEN years ago] Tom Cruise and his Freedom Medal of Valor: Where’s the tabloid press?
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Has No City Permit for IAS Gala or Other Events: Is It Keeping The Party Private?
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology’s Sea Org Application: What Are Your Crimes?
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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 3,424 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,928 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,434 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,984 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,974 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,360 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,855 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,159 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,810 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,028 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,582 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,923 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,494 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,410 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,577 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,159 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,418 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,455 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,171 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,735 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,050 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,225 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,907 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,244 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,097 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,213 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,575 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,986 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,374 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,258 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,823 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,334 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,594 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,698 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 22, 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, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), 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, 20 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
