TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: If you’ve hesitated in the past about ditching your family and turning over all of your cash to an organization founded by a 20th century science fiction writer in order to learn who you were 40 billions years ago, wait no longer! Here’s the latest from Scientology! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Any school of mental healing in the past has been victimized by that irrationality known as psychosis. Dianetics, no matter if it has the answer to psychosis, is yet victimized by its existence in the society. Psychotics, people with histories of known breaks, of suicide attempts, of homicidal tendencies, can yet be expected to apply for instruction in Dianetics. An adequate screen has been set up to inhibit the entrance of such persons into training. A Minnesota Multiphasic, at least, must be given to all applicants for certification course training. This very far from guarantees insurance against enrolling a psychotic. Psychometry is not accurate and varies from over-optimism to over pessimism about psychotics. Therefore, all psychometry must be tempered by common sense. Also, it must be modified by what we know Dianetics can readily do for people.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“I found out very early I could bully people into having sonic, visio, and everything else. I don’t know what I was doing. I guess I was handling their engrams for them and I guess cutting down their self determinism; maybe turning them back into GEs. I swear, I look back on it, I might occasionally have turned off a thetan, put him sound asleep and turned the GE full on and the fellow was happy as a clam thereafter.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 4, 1952
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“NOTICE: Diana and I are going for three weeks leave, Sunday, September 5th. CS-G Comm, Lt. Nikki Freedman will be handling my lines while I am away. Further, the Guardian Offices WW and US are fully on post and completely capable of handling any matters which may arise. In case of extreme emergency, these Offices will also be in communication with me. Therefore, if any matter arises which has to do with Guardian Office functions and duties, place these on CS-G Comm’s Lines and such will be handled via the appropriate Guardian Office. The word is: BUSINESS AS USUAL.” — Love, Mary Sue Hubbard, Capt. CS-G, September 4, 1971
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“Just a note to say that I fully support the ban of Justin Craig’s pseudo-Scientology. LRH was quite clear in stating that after OT8 come actual OT levels, not more chasing of negative gain cosmologies. I suggested earlier that Craig could possibly be a BT from LRH’s left testicle.”
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1999: Keith Henson reported that his lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service has been dismissed. “Plaintiff H Keith Henson alleges that the IRS conspired with the Church of Scientology and various Church related entities to defraud the United States. More specifically Plaintiff alleges that the IRS unlawfully executed a ‘closing agreement’ granting the Church tax exempt status. Plaintiff alleges that the IRS’ conduct violated the Establishment clause of the Constitution of the United States. Plaintiff alleges that he has special standing to bring this action because the Church has allegedly ‘paid approximately one million dollars collected as ‘charitable donations’ to harass Plaintiff, up to and including physical attack, and for other purposes which are clearly outside of the legislatively sanctioned uses of ‘charitable donations.’ The United States moves to dismiss the action, contending that Plaintiff lacks standing, has failed to include an indispensable party, namely the Church, and cannot demonstrate waiver of sovereign immunity or that this Court otherwise has jurisdiction to hear this matter. Plaintiff asserts standing generally as a ‘federal taxpayer,’ claiming the public treasury has been harmed because of the IRS. In Flast, the Supreme Court held that a taxpayer will be a proper party to allege the unconstitutionality only of exercises of congressional power under the taxing and spending clause of the Constitution. Second, the Supreme Court required that the taxpayer ‘show that the challenged enactment exceeds specific constitutional limitations upon the exercise of the taxing and spending power.’ Plaintiff has failed to satisfy both of the Flast requirements. First, Plaintiff is not challenging congressional power, but rather challenging an executive branch action, the IRS execution of a closing agreement with the Church. Second, Plaintiff has failed to show, and cannot show that the IRS’ conduct exceeded constitutional limitations. Plaintiff has alleged that the IRS’ conduct violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. However, Plaintiff’s constitutional challenge is without merit in light of the Supreme Court’s holding in Hernandez V. Commissioner. Plaintiff appears to argue in the alternative that he has standing to assert his claims because the Church has used tax-exempt funds to harass Plaintiff with lawsuits and pay private investigators to attack his reputation and physically attack him while picketing. However, these alleged injuries are not ‘traceable’ to the IRS’ allegedly unlawful conduct. Furthermore, Plaintiff concedes that these alleged injuries are not likely to be redressed in this action. In other words, Plaintiff acknowledges that even if he were to prevail in this litigation, Plaintiff would he unable to stop the Church from continuing the alleged harmful conduct. Therefore, the Plaintiff lacks standing. For the reasons set forth above, the IRS’ motion to dismiss is GRANTED with prejudice. JAMES WARE, United States District Judge”
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“You should watch me play Jeopardy when I’m properly medicated.”
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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, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. 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. Now serving time in 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 June 19.
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. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— 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 upheld on appeal. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return to Kalra’s court.
— 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] The shocking list of crimes Scientology thinks you committed on other planets
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s sneaky front groups keep doing their thing — and some are succeeding
[THREE years ago] Hey, everybody, Scientology’s sneaky school front, Applied Scholastics, is hiring!
[FOUR years ago] Judge in labor trafficking lawsuit refuses relief for ex-Scientology trio: Bad omen?
[FIVE years ago] Liz Gale: The Scientology auditing of kids at Mace-Kingsley was my childhood
[SIX years ago] SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Episode 2 spiked by Aussie network, ‘Witness X,’ is leaked online
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s biggest donors of 2019, so far: The whales giving millions to Miscavige
[EIGHT years ago] Two years after Scientology rehabbed an Australian acoustics lab, the silence is deafening
[NINE years ago] Tomorrow on ‘Leah Remini’: You’re going to learn what it’s like on Scientology’s ‘Bridge’
[TEN years ago] Bryan Seymour reporting live from Scientology’s ‘Advanced Org’ opening in Sydney
[ELEVEN years ago] Actress Erika Christensen in unearthed video meant only for her fellow Scientologists
[TWELVE years ago] LIVE REPORTS FROM TAMPA: Scientology tests its religious freedom defense in fraud lawsuit
[THIRTEEN years ago] Our Man in Paris, Jonny Jacobsen, on the Scientology Appeal in France’s Highest Court
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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 3,741 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,245 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,751 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,301 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,677 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,172 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,478 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,127 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,345 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,899 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,240 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,811 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,727 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,894 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,480 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,739 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,487 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,056 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,367 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,542 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,224 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,561 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,414 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,530 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,892 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,691 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,575 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,150 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,651 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,911 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,015 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 4, 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, 1995-2025 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)
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
