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?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“It will be found in all countries where Dianetics and Scientology and orgs have been successful that a key part of the success was keeping the subject ‘on source.’ The public at once distrusts persons or groups who alter the materials or ‘use some of them’ or attribute them to others. This is quite factual and the public is right. All great and lasting successes have been made by orgs that were on source and whose materials were straight and correct and used that way.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1971
——————–
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.
——————–
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
——————–
“One court in Virginia, they proved conclusively that Scientology was a healing science, because it cured things, and actually brought people into court to show that they had been cured of something by Scientology, which proved it was a healing cience, and gave some, and I don’t even think though they had the nerve to call the auditor in and sentence him. I think he remains unsentenced to this day. It was just too much nonsense, you see. In other words, they can go clear around the line. That proves we’re a healing subject, you see. Wild business. Look the length and breadth of the land, I don’t think they could have found anybody who’d been healed by anything on medicine. But they were proving our cases for us.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 29, 1963
——————–
“The Club Dinner aboard was a great success and the Port Captain’s org officer is filing commendables in the folders of all who contributed. We apparently were a CIA shp that really smuggles cats to hang crowbars on banana trees. But this is all scotched. The guests were very pleased. (I’m going to send bills for advertising to both CIA and the Mafia.) This Club didn’t know they had other clubs in nearby ports. And by the way a recent mission reports the last country we were in all cool. The Rep there reported a flap, failed to report the flap was vanished.” — The Commodore, August 29, 1971
——————–
“We are getting into the nooks and crannies of LRH’s mind. Few have done that before.”
——————–
1998: Keith Henson reported on his bankruptcy hearing this week. Keith has been bankrupted by a $75,000 judgment won against him by Scientology. “I spent the morning being deposed in a 2004 creditors examine by Rosen who had flown out from New York for the occasion. RTC has spent more money on me since the trial than they can be expected to collect, but as we all know, the object is not economic but to destroy anyone who is a critic of scientology. My bankruptcy lawyer said he had never seen anything like it.”
——————–
“After the horrorshow called Jonestown and the government-led debacle at Waco, no one has to wonder at the government’s reluctance to revisit Cultland. The only reason they got involved with FLDS was because of the rampant pedophilia. And even with that righteous justification, the Feds got all kinds of shit from the religious right wing in this country.”
——————–
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.
— ‘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 May 31, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— 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: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, on hold until appeal over new judge heard.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] A 2017 flight suggests that Scientology leader is still canoodling with his ‘communicator’
[TWO years ago] October showdowns: After years of delays, Scientology-related trials are looming
[THREE years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 4: Destroying a planet with the touch of a finger
[FOUR years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 18: Mark ‘Marty’ Rathbun
[FIVE years ago] Another legal fight brewing over Scientology’s refusal to return future payments
[SIX years ago] Some countries force Scientology to open the books: Here’s one report on how bad business is
[SEVEN years ago] LIVE FROM SAN ANTONIO: Will a former Scientology enforcer be compelled to testify?
[EIGHT years ago] A Scientologist on the ballot: OC candidate keeping mum about his anti-psych work
[NINE years ago] Louisiana congressman posts Narconon pic, then yanks it after we point out Scientology link
[TEN years ago] Scientology yesterday and today: Reports from Mark Bunker and Dennis Erlich
[ELEVEN years ago] What the Daily News Left Out of its Story on Scientology in Harlem
——————–
Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,007 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,502 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,017 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,567 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,557 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,438 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,742 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,613 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,165 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,506 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,073 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,992 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,160 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,742 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,002 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,038 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,754 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,318 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,633 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,808 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,359 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,490 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,828 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,681 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,802 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,158 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,461 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,567 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,965 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,841 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,406 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,919 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,173 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,281 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on August 29, 2024 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
