TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Yesterday Danny Masterson’s attorneys posted their appeal brief as they try to overturn his prison sentence. But even before Masterson was charged criminally, he and the Church of Scientology were sued civilly in 2019 by his victims. And it’s been slow going ever since. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Medicine has been overtaken in healing by nutritionists and biochemists. They still seek to exclude these skills from their knowledge and experience. Indeed, when demanding $46,000,000 to research heart disease from a not always bright Congress in the U.S., medicine was contradicted by no less than the head of Health, Education and Welfare who stated that their ‘research’ as planned did not include biochemistry, a rather strange omission since this is the most result-filled field. It goes without mention that the demand also excluded nutritional research. Many individual doctors are prone to attack any patients they find ‘on vitamins’ or who timidly mention Vitamin E. And one is struck with the fact that heart disease is the largest income source, I believe, of the doctor.” — 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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“Hitler didn’t have any trouble with a large section of his population. He just put them all in concentration camps and that was it. And it’s that kind of a game if you want to look at it. It’s not the game of government and who will we elect and democracy über alles, or something, it’s not all that kind of a government. It’s just the kind of a government, well, there they are nicely out of the running, everybody is out of the running, isn’t that nice. And things are just barely ticking over, and we’re not going to be troubled by those fellows from the 18th Panzer Division that put up such a hell of a fight on Exnoo. We’re not going to be troubled with them anymore because we got them implanted very nicely, and they’ve all been sent down to Earth, and the mores of the society there will take care of everything And they will never be in circulation again as space jockeys. It’s that kind of thinking, you see?” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 20, 1961
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“Kindliness note: FEBC students and public students are no longer thrown overboard at Flag. It went out in ’68. We haven’t thrown anyone overboard for just ages. There hasn’t even been a low condition assigned on Flag for a couple of years. However, with new recruits aboard and the decks getting dirty…” — The Commodore, December 20, 1970
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“I think the biggest mistake is selling and aiming at OT. Theta level auditing is spectacular, gives wonderful key-outs, and seems like it is really doing something — but when you actually look at the real lives of OTs they usually don’t look too impressive. We bypass all the myriad reasons things don’t go right in this life and this world. We should aim at making people’s real lives better, not getting them to some mystical state. That train has left.”
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1999: A letter from the Foundation for Religious Freedom was posted to a.r.s this week. They are the Scientology group that has taken over the name of the Cult Awareness Network. “In the spirit of this holiday season, I am enclosing information on a vital new publication from the Foundation for Religious Freedom: Tolerance 101: Practical Solutions for Interfaith Family Problems. This book communicates basic truths which any family can use constructively when confronted with a loved one’s involvement with an unfamiliar religious group, or to use the pejorative, a so-called ‘cult’. As you may be aware, the Foundation for Religious Freedom operates the ‘New Cult Awareness Network’ or CAN. Tolerance 101 is intended to counter or replace previous volumes distributed to bookstores and libraries by those seeking to create suspicion and distrust between members of
differing faiths. To see that this new book is widely distributed throughout the public nationwide, the ‘New CAN’ needs our support. As the
year ends, please consider a tax-deductible gift to this organization to assist the Tolerance 101 project. You can donate by check or credit card
to the ‘Foundation for Religious Freedom’ by using the enclosed return envelope. Yours very truly, Timothy Bowles. The Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization dedicated to bringing reason, truth, and understanding to an often explosive subject: the involvement of oneself, a friend or loved one in a group that might be called a ‘cult’. We don’t criticize or endorse any one religion. We have people from many diverse Faiths on our board and acting as professional referrals. Our service is free. We promote honesty, dialogue, and mutual respect.”
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“12:35! Oh shit, there goes another day shot to hell.”
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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, 2023. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
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.
— 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. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1.
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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] Scientology leader David Miscavige’s New Year’s speech in Los Angeles — the transcript
[TWO years ago] Chris Owen and Jon Atack remember Jane Kember, Scientology’s ultimate spymaster
[THREE years ago] INSIDER: How the ‘Chase Wave’ began, and how it crashed, leaving Scientology in chaos
[FOUR years ago] Scientology social media: Planetary conquest still on track even as orgs are boarded up
[FIVE years ago] Scientology asks for emergency hearing Monday to force Valerie Haney into ‘arbitration’
[SIX years ago] Remembering that Scientology comes from a mix of science fiction and ghost stories
[SEVEN years ago] AUDIO: David Miscavige’s claim that Mexico has officially recognized Scientology as a religion
[EIGHT years ago] The fight over the secrets on a Scientology spy’s seized laptop that no one is talking about
[NINE years ago] Augustine: Compton scam rehab and ‘literacy crusade’ have vanished since raid
[TEN years ago] Jon Atack looks back at his final Scientology auditing session — and how he broke free
[ELEVEN years ago] Tom Cruise drops his disastrous suit against Bauer Media and its magazines
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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.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,119 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,614 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,129 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,679 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,669 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,055 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,550 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,854 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,725 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,277 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,618 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,185 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,104 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,272 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,854 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,114 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,150 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,866 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,430 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,745 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,920 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,602 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,939 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,793 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,908 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,270 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,573 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,679 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,077 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,953 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,518 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,029 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,285 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,393 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 20, 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
