TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We have plenty of wrapping to do today, and we thought you might too, so we’ve lined up some Scientology-related videos you can play when you have a moment to sit with a cup of cocoa as you prepare for the big day tomorrow! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“I am completing something I started in 1945, which was a survey of biochemistry potentials in order to decide a direction of research: did the mind monitor structure or structure, as medicine thought, monitor the mind? The former was in 1945 found to be the true case to an overwhelming degree. But at the same time, when people are so body fixated that they have problems of a physical nature too intense to admit of any other consideration, bringing them true power and freedom becomes difficult unless one pays some attention to where their attention is fixated.” — 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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“You’ll find that there’s a hollow spot in back of the body. And if you will let one of those hollow spots — at least, there’s at least one — if you’ll let it say ‘hello’ backwards, you know, have a spot in back of the body say ‘hello’ backwards, you will discover some of the more interesting spaces. You get why that is? A thetan has always come in on the body on the back, you see, and nobody has ever said ‘hello’ to him. There’s quite often a machine pulled in there, which is one of the more interesting things you run into with this process. Big, big juicy machine with valves, tubes, endless belts and every other thing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 24, 1954
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“There has never been any order permitting mail to be taken directly to the post office by individuals. I would like to find out who started this. It is illegal to send mail any other way than via the Dept of Comm.” — N. Jessup, CS-1, December 24, 1968
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“This Filbert guy is full of it. Royal families of England and Japan? Presidents? Come on. His data is unreliable. When he says it’s dangerous to read the OT part of his book it means nothing, he’s a nutter. Scientology hasn’t cured his nuttiness, it hasn’t de-abberrated him because the tech kinda doesn’t work. Look at Hubbard, he was abberrated. The whole religion is borderline a scam. But doing it and investigating it really is educational. It’s an epically deep rabbit hole that some never get out of. Talk about being immune to after this life implants, members can’t even be immune to present time tangible scams.”
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1996: Jeff Jacobsen posted an account of his trip to Scientology headquarters and prison camp, Golden Era Studios (aka Gold Base).
“I went by an apartment complex that they use for berthing, and took a photo of the apartment and 3 buses in front. Then I went on to Golden Era Studios. I parked near the new studio and started taking photos. Immediately a guy on a motorcycle came up to me and asked what I was doing. I said I just wanted to take photos of the property and then I’d be leaving. He asked who I was and who I was working for and I refused to answer both questions. He called on his walkie-talkie ‘professional photographer coming up.’ As he drove off to get my license plate number, I went on to take photos of the ship and such. As I was about 20 yards from the gated entry, 2 guys came out and started taking pictures of me. One had a telephoto lens and the other a cheapy camera. I told them that I was just going to take a few photos and leave. They said they were worried about me because I wouldn’t reveal who I was or who I was working for. So I took their photo too. The one guy told me that the curb was their property line, which doesn’t leave much room for walking! I took shots of the sign (after the one guy finally got out of the way when I said I’d stay there as long as it took to get that photo), the ship, and the chapel. When we got to my car he took photos of the inside of the car. Then I opened the trunk to get out my video-camera. He called on his walkie- talkie ‘he’s taking out a video camera.’ Sheesh. He photographed the inside of the trunk of the car, and I told him I considered that a violation of my privacy. I told him I was only going to take about 30 seconds of the studio, which I did. I then thanked him for the conversation, shook hands, and drove off. They have many remote cameras along the metal fences. They have high-powered lights all along the fence. You can read Andre Tabayoyon’s affidavit for other unseen security systems. And on top of the hardware used, security guards instantly come out to question anyone who even stops near their property.”
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“‘If all Scientologists were John Travolta clones, Scientology would be a good deal.’ I’m not sure the Massage Association of America would agree with you on that one, Jimmy.”
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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.
— ‘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 January 13, 2025.
— 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] Here they are, the wealthy whales keeping Scientology afloat into 2024!
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: How Tory Christman saved Rosie O’Donnell from joining Scientology
[THREE years ago] Feds suing ‘stem cell’ scammers for preying on the elderly. Oh, and they’re Scientologists.
[FOUR years ago] Whoops. Letter shows Scientology gave Jane Doe #1 permission to sue Danny Masterson in 2004
[FIVE years ago] Scientology is denied an emergency hearing, but here is its ‘arbitration’ motion
[SIX years ago] We got a correspondent into Scientology’s New Year’s Event Saturday in Los Angeles
[SEVEN years ago] Year in review: In April, Dee Findlay delivered a truth bomb to Scientology in its spiritual mecca
[EIGHT years ago] A Christmas Eve treat: Our man Down Under on Scientology’s antipodean troubles in 2016
[NINE years ago] Release the hounds! Scientology suddenly getting more aggressive with media: Report
[TEN years ago] As Luka Magnotta is convicted, questions about his Scientology involvement remain
[ELEVEN years ago] The Underground Bunker Year-in-Review starts today: A January for the ages!
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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 3,123 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,618 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,133 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,683 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,673 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,059 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,554 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,858 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,729 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,281 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,622 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,189 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,108 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,276 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,858 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,118 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,154 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,870 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,434 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,749 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,924 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,606 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,943 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,797 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,912 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,274 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,577 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,683 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,081 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,957 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,522 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,033 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,289 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,397 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 24, 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
