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 Leah Remini has done so well in her lawsuit against Scientology is detail how it uses social media to smear her and others, implying that the church recruits a network of volunteers to post those smears relentlessly. Now, we have video evidence showing just that. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“A minister who misses withholds on a parishioner is required to receive Confessionals himself (including a «Joburg» Confessional and an Auditor Confessional) and if repeated is subject to Comm Ev. A parishioner who knowingly withholds during a Confessional is also subject to being named an Interested Party at the minister’s Comm Ev. A parishioner who knowingly withholds during an HCO Confessional is subject to double penances. The charge (in addition to any other charges) is: NON-COOPERATION WITH ENFORCING CONFESSIONAL TECHNOLOGY.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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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, May 5, 1957
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“MOVIE: The top Broadway hit man, Milton Katselas, through Celebrity Centre sent me a screen play that deals with some Scientology materials. I received it as he requested, went over it. As an old screen writer I found some ways to polish it and telexed him that I would. He has just telexed back very thrilled. In one week he did Grade VI, went Clear, was taken on at Columbia Pictures to direct his Broadway hit and got my assurances I’d help work on the new screen play. To quote ‘All in One Week. Wow.’” — The Commodore, May 5, 1971
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“The events we are living and participating to with LRH are nothing short of HISTORICAL. It is nothing less than the publication of what happened before the birth of this universe and the series of events that brought us or some of us to put an end to the former dying civilization so as to offer it a new chance in another universe.”
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1996: Jeff Jacobsen posted some research concerning the basement of the Ft. Harrison Hotel, the cult’s headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. “There is some controversy about whether the Ft. Harrison Hotel in Clearwater (which is a Scientology building) has a basement. Dennis Erlich claims he was locked in the basement as part of his RPF for doing something wrong. Brian Anderson, VP of the church in Clearwater said on WMNF that Dennis is lying and there is no basement in the Ft. Harrison. I’ve heard that the latest KSW magazine also says there is no basement in the Ft. Harrison. Anyone can go over to the County Courthouse right next to the Ft. Harrison and look up property assessments for any building in Clearwater. The Ft. Harrison is listed as having a basement of 1806 square feet.”
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“No one knows what possible dirt there may be in Katie’s PC folder. Her first concern is maintaining the image of a ‘fit’ mother so Cruise doesn’t try to get custody of Suri on that accusation. If she dishes dirt I’m sure so will he.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to state prison.
— Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for March 9.
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, which is now fully briefed. Awaiting the setting of an oral arguments hearing.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Oral arguments hearing on March 3.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.
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Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, 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] VIDEO: Scientology’s plans for Dianetics 75th anniversary start to leak
[TWO years ago] Scientology announced protest of ‘thousands’ as APA comes to NYC, so we showed up
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Tory Christman on visiting the Danny Masterson retrial
[FOUR years ago] 1950 US Census proves Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard did indeed have a second wife
[FIVE years ago] The Scientology-QAnon connection that showed up in HBO’s ‘Q: Into the Storm’
[SIX years ago] We’ve highlighted the parts Danny Masterson wants removed from the Scientology lawsuit
[SEVEN years ago] Media and authorities should focus on the real horrors of Scientology’s Freewinds
[EIGHT years ago] In the US and Australia, new Ideal Orgs are increasingly isolated and uninviting. What gives?
[NINE years ago] Families of rescued patients are sharply divided on Scientologist-run Tennessee hellhole
[TEN years ago] How Ron Miscavige’s Scientology memoir reads to a former Scientologist
[ELEVEN years ago] Neil Gaiman’s sister shows up in Scientology response video to Gibney film ‘Going Clear’
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology archiving magazines online? Are they nuts?
[THIRTEEN years ago] Cinco De Funnies: Getting Drunk on the Wisdom of Ron!
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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 3,619 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,123 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,629 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,179 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,169 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,555 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,050 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,354 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,005 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,223 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,777 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,118 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,689 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,605 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,772 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,358 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,617 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,365 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,934 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,245 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,420 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,102 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,439 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,292 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,408 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,770 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,184 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,569 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,453 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,017 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,529 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,789 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,893 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 5, 2026 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.
Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is 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)
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
