TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Readers know that besides reporting news about the Church of Scientology, we also watch for developments among those adherents of L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘technology’ outside of the church itself. And this week, we learned that bizarre claims about Hubbard are ripping the field apart. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The basic rule in any case is Reality is proportional to the amount of charge removed and so Reality can be increased simply by removing charge. These surges of the needle as well as the BDs of the TA are ‘charge coming off.’ Anything eventually resolves if the pc just keeps on getting charge off.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1971
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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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“The only death, I think, that ever occurred in the eastern area occurred on the part of a boy who came into the New York Foundation to receive some Dianetic auditing. We had a psychiatrist there who was on duty, because the publisher there in New York said that that was the legal thing to have. And anybody who came in and looked a bit desperate or something of the sort would be a mental case and therefore should be interviewed by the psychiatrist. He went in, saw the psychiatrist, the psychiatrist said there was nothing could be done. The psychiatrist told the auditor in question that he wasn’t to audit him and they sent the boy back out of the Foundation, and he went home and killed himself. That happened in New York City. It was smoothed over very quietly but there’s no particular reason to smooth it over because we didn’t kill him. That was an interesting thing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 2, 1956
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“ETHICS: The unauthorised use of a master key to enter any FINANCE Office, without the FINANCE personnel permission will be considered illegal entry. (Other than an emergency such as fire or water leakage.)” — Lt. L. Steinberg, 3rd Mate, September 2, 1970
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“I am not a fanatic of Admin. But it is a necessity so that one person can recognise and meet the counter effort of the environment. The definition of rationality. How is one person out there (OK, in some cases with 5 or 6 more people next to him) able to do that? They cannot. I refuse to have gone crazy before I kick the bucket this lifetime. This is my right. The right to my sanity. And I am gonna stay sane as long as I even whisper it to my team mates that Admin is the path. And the org board is the key. LRH didn’t spend his life over org boards for nothing. He wanted to teach us something. He said that was the best vehicle he could find. And I don’t just believe him, I have seen it work.”
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1995: Pacific Bell provided Grady Ward with details of the scam run by Scientology investigators to get Grady’s phone records. “Dear Mr. Ward, I am providing this document as a confirmation of our verbal contact of August 7, 1995. At that time I indicated to you that a caller had contacted Pacific Bell and presented himself as you. The caller had sufficient identification and information about your account to convince us that he was in fact, Grady Ward. Despite the fact that we had attempted to secure your account via a password, the caller was so thoroughly convincing as he described “his recent stroke and the subsequent vision problems and memory loss that he had suffered” that he effectively manipulated us into discussing your account. His act was very well rehearsed including labored breathing and slurred speech which resulted from the ‘stroke.’ He seemed most interested in changing his long distance company and confirming the amounts and dates of his most recent payments on both your accounts. Of course he wanted the password removed as well since he was no longer able to remember such things. It was not until after the close of the contact that my suspicions were aroused as I realized that the slurred speech had disappeared. At that point I contacted you by telephone and the ‘scam’ became apparent. Sincerely, Douglas E. Waterman, Manager”
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“There’s all kinds of space opera before you get to OT III that can be found in ‘Have You Lived Before This Life?’ and ‘A History of Man’ etc. Ribisi is adhering to the code of Space Omertà.”
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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.
— ‘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:
— 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.
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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] PODCAST: Apollo crew member Sandy Holeman on serving L. Ron Hubbard and fleeing Scientology
[TWO years ago] After more failures, Valeska Paris asks court to summons Scientology leader David Miscavige
[THREE years ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 2: Achieving godhood
[FOUR years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 17: Louis Farrakhan
[FIVE years ago] A holiday tale for families ripped apart by Scientology’s heartless ‘disconnection’ policy
[SIX years ago] FEDS CHARGE SCIENTOLOGISTS IN NEW YORK FOR $80 MILLION MEDICARE SCAM
[SEVEN years ago] Louis Theroux isn’t the first who tried to find Scientology’s positive side and failed
[EIGHT years ago] ‘Finally, I am myself’: Scientologists talk about Scientology in a video not made for the public
[NINE years ago] Why Scientology can never submit its drug rehab quackery to scientific review
[TEN years ago] Jonny Jacobsen reviews the new Scientology memoir by Hungarian writer Peter Bonyai
[ELEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY’S PRIVATE DANCER: A Story of Seduction, Intervention, and Betrayal
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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 3,011 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,506 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,021 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,571 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,561 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 4,947 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,442 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,746 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,617 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,169 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,510 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,077 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,996 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,164 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,746 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,006 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,042 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,758 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,322 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,637 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,812 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,363 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,494 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,832 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,685 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,806 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,162 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,465 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,571 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,969 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,845 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,410 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,923 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,177 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,285 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 2, 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
