TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: In December Scientology made obvious how much it still backs Danny Masterson by submitting an amicus brief to help him win his criminal appeal. The court rejected the brief, but now Scientology has submitted the amicus AGAIN, showing just how much it wants to free Danny. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The still needle which does not react on ordinary things it should react on is an indicator of withholds. This is covered in the recent HCOB of 11 April 82 SEC-CHECKING IMPLANTS but there is more data. The ‘withhold’ can be partially gotten off and one can get a strange F/N. It is strange because, while it is an F/N, it is less than normal width and has a sort of spring on each end, as though the needle was hitting a spring or cushion. It is not a nice flowing F/N. And if you look close you can see it is sort of springing back. It is not flowing clean. The F/N also tends to stop too soon, does not carry over. It indicates the subject of the withhold or area of life is still somewhat withheld.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1982
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“You ever been on the Pacific Ocean? You look an awful long distance on the Pacific Ocean and you’ll find space, you know. The speculative horizon is like that. It’s way out, man. Boy, I mean we’ve collided with data which is highly debatable as to whether it will be popular or unpopular. And I’m afraid I have to go along with the first foundation decision I made, back in 1950 when they had that board meeting and told me I wasn’t to research on any more past lives. I don’t think they ever did get that end of the building back together again. The bricks are still cracked. And I said, well, psychology and other activities in the field of the mind have always had a large eye on popularity. And they would actually throw away materials which didn’t agree with things. They’d throw away the things which didn’t agree. And that’s why they’ve not come up with any answers. They consult this thing of the popularity of a datum, the acceptability of a datum and have therefore compromised truth. So you either accept truth or popularity.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 14, 1963
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“Smersh operates on false data and has not changed his Situation Analysis in a whole score of years and does not vary tactics to fit new situations. That is valuable information. A general who fought that way would be busy fighting the 151st Bavarian Light Infantry as they were deployed at Niems in 1870! Since then they’ve been disbanded, forgotten, and that trench has been empty for 80 years. Yet such a general would have his whole army concentrating on it! Viewing national governments through this developed logic tech applied to their data and their idea of the situation reveals them to be crazy. And gives one the reason for both war and failing societies. No wonder they end up shooting people.” — The Commodore, May 14, 1970
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“After the last session on ENERGY, an hour ago, I started working in the Physical Universe with OT IX technology and I am amazed at how it works. For the first time I stopped giving my dog verbal commands. Just telepathically and it works much better. I have the perception of the flow of energy coming in, how it interacts and how it translates into action. Then I started to ‘see’ the energy that makes up the bodies of the people I meet.”
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1998: The jury in the Keith Henson case decided to award Scientology $75,000 this week. The San Jose Mercury News published an article on the case. “A Palo Alto engineer will pay a stiff price for thumbing his nose at the Church of Scientology by publishing its teachings on the Internet. After less than a day of deliberations, a San Jose federal jury this week ordered Keith Henson to pay $75,000 to the Religious Technology Center, a wing of the Scientology organization, for deliberately violating copyright laws. The verdict came after a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte. Henson, who has warned that the case could have a chilling effect on free speech on the Internet, may face further penalties for putting the church’s published works on-line. Under federal copyright laws, Henson can be ordered to pay the technology center’s legal fees and costs, which could add thousands of dollars to the judgment. Henson has always maintained that he posted the material to alert the public to church positions that amounted to ‘medical and legal abuses.’ Henson and other church critics posted transcripts of the trial on various web sites the past week to highlight what was transpiring in Whyte’s courtroom. Those postings might land Henson in further hot water with the judge: The Internet postings include a substantial portion of Henson’s testimony that took place in closed session because it involved discussion of the secret church documents. Whyte ordered the transcripts sealed, but they have wound up on the Web. Henson said the material was placed online inadvertently and he apologized for the mistake. But church officials may seek further sanctions. Despite the jury’s verdict, Henson remained unapologetic Wednesday. ‘It is amazing the trouble you can get into for trying to warn the public about health hazards,’ Henson said. ‘This (trial) was about saying it’s proper to use copyright (laws) to prevent public discussion of criminal activity. This was just a loss of a battle in a larger war.'”
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“The FDA could have busted Scientology a thousand times over for medical fraud if they simply sent in undercover agents wired for sound and vision to sign up for courses. Scientology registrars will promise any and all medical cures as long as you show them the money. The government is an ass.”
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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] Scientology’s plan is in jeopardy, and this is what Clearwater should keep in mind
[TWO years ago] Val Ross: When you’re a Scientology OT, and you have to fight cancer
[THREE years ago] PODCAST: Kate Bornstein is plugged into our Danny Masterson retrial coverage
[FOUR years ago] ‘Aftermath’ subject Liz Gale is sharing her Scientology experiences on TikTok
[FIVE years ago] Why is Scientology desperate for a tiny plot in Clearwater? Let us draw you a picture.
[SIX years ago] A look inside a Scientology org as it prepares to reopen for the public
[SEVEN years ago] Why the quarantine is such a fail: Scientology ship was set up as an interrogation factory
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s reclusive ‘president,’ 82-year-old Heber Jentzsch, tells a niece he’s doing fine
[NINE years ago] With its Mexico City project halted, Scientology fans out across town to promote its pablum
[TEN years ago] Ron Miscavige shakes off Scientology smears, rockets to #1 in ebooks
[ELEVEN years ago] Guest post: Five extreme examples of hypocrisy in Scientology’s ‘Freedom’ magazine
[TWELVE years ago] Falling death of a Russian Scientologist in Clearwater: The police investigation
[THIRTEEN years ago] How to Confront and Shatter Suppression, Scientology Style!
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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 3,628 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,132 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,638 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,188 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,178 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,564 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,059 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,363 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,014 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,232 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,786 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,127 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,698 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,614 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,781 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,367 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,626 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,374 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,943 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,254 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,429 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,111 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,448 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,301 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,417 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,779 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,193 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,578 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,462 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,026 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,538 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,798 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,902 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 14, 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
