TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: As the Emily Armstrong/Linkin Park story caught fire, we’ve seen the question raised: How much of a Scientologist is she? Mike Rinder supplies part of the answer, revealing that he spent time with Emily’s ‘Sea Org’ mother Gail in Scientology’s notorious prison ‘The Hole.’ [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The amount of improvement a person can receive is so great that it takes a long series of actions to do it. As for “handling bad mental conditions” this is too simple and is not the business we are in. Just by handling the current upsets, problems, overts and withholds of a person in an hour’s session, Scientology can make more case advance than was possible in any past century. So there is a vast difference between handling disturbed people and obtaining all the advance of which a person is capable of obtaining.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1972
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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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“Oh, Scientology. Oh, oh, yes, Scientology, all right. That’s, that’s fine. Well, they’ll make you an Operating Thetan there, and you’ll be nine feet tall, and you’ll be able to beat up on the local government, and you’ll be able to throw your wife in the Pacific Ocean, you won’t have to bother with her anymore. And you’ll just be all-powerful and so forth. Well, it probably wouldn’t be very real to the individual, even if he believed it. I can assure you it’s going to take him several years to make it and by the time he makes it he won’t have any interest in throwing his wife in the local ocean or beating up the local council.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 9, 1965
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“Jerry McLarty went off post to Chief Engineer of Bolivar and is reported by the new chief to have left things in beautiful order — ‘a piece of cake.’ I was thinking maybe we should award this type of action. It is usually the reverse. Joe Blow leaves and the incomer spends the next few weeks just trying to find the comm basket under that mess. So a guy leaving a post in good order and running well with a grooved in relief deserves an inspection and a reward. Any suggestions of how to get such a thing in and what award should be given?” — The Commodore, September 9, 1970
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“Squirrels and unethical people in the Freezone routinely use the ‘hidden data line’ argument to try to goad people of goodwill into giving them materials they will then use to spin people in or to deny their existence in order to falsely parade as an Authorities while being a complete ignoramus.”
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1995: Larry Wollersheim reported more dirty tricks by Scientology this week. “Lawrence Wollersheim has just learned that the security of his Rocky Mountain Internet email account has been breached by parties unknown. Within hours of the seizure of his computer by US Marshals and the Church of Scientology on August 22nd, an unknown party broke into two email accounts — lawrence@rmii.com and lawrence@factnet.org — changed the passwords, read, and then deleted the email. The church also has been pressuring the judge to force Larry to disclose his PGP passphrase, which would let them read more sensitive documents from his hard disk. Tonight’s local news included an interesting blurb about this case. The judge refused to order Wollersheim to disclose his passphrase, since the encrypted material comprised names of Co$ critics who could then be targeted by the Church.” And a disturbing portion from a report by the Denver TV station KUSA. “Outside the courthouse, Scientology Director Kurt Weiland held up a pair of handcuffs which he said symbolized what the church intended to do to Wollersheim. ‘Like I told you this morning, I brought these handcuffs here to show what it is that we are driving for, which is to bring this man to, to justice.’ Another issue has arisen. Some of the computer files the Scientologists seized from Wollersheim’s home are encrypted. Scientology has asked Judge Kane to hold Wollersheim in contempt. Wollersheim says the encrypted files are lists of people he says are victims of Scientology and he says he’ll go to jail before turning over his passwords, which unlock his secret files.”
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“After my dad’s POS father had abandoned him and my grandma in a one-room shack in the Arizona desert, and my dad, grandma, and his two sisters ended up in Northern California, I guess my grandfather ended up being one of the biggest contractors in the Tempe/Phoenix area. When he died he was worth millions and my dad and his two sisters never saw a dime. His new wife was a Mormon and all the money went to her and the cult.”
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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:
— 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.
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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: This week’s sentencing and letters drama left us needing some group therapy
[TWO years ago] Olmedo rules: Read the decision to deny Danny Masterson’s latest trial delay attempt
[THREE years ago] Let’s help the new Scientology ‘Ideal Org’ in Austin get staffed up!
[FOUR years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 15: Jeffrey Riffer
[SIX years ago] By any means necessary: Scientology’s bizarre war against psychiatry
[SEVEN years ago] Supporting Leah Remini and her show — what’s the risk for viewers who expose Scientology?
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ policy gets sacrificed on the Burning Man altar
[NINE years ago] David Miscavige: Scientology saved the universe from its ‘reverse point’ in 2006
[TEN years ago] Longtime Scientologist Jim Jackson remembers Lyman Spurlock, 1945-2014
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology and Nation Of Islam Education Hucksters Marching on Sacramento!
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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 3,018 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,513 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,028 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,578 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,568 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 4,954 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,449 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,753 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,624 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,176 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,517 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,084 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,003 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,171 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,753 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,013 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,049 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,765 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,329 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,644 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,819 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,370 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,501 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,839 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,692 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,813 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,169 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,472 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,578 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,976 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,852 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,417 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,930 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,184 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,292 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 9, 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
