Here in the US, we’ve started our long weekend celebrating Labor Day and unofficially ending the summer. And we’re getting the weekend going thanks to our longtime contributor Jeffrey Augustine, who is back with another podcast.
He interviewed Dan Koon, the former high-ranking technical expert in the Church of Scientology who, after leaving the organization in 2004, has been helping several other former members write books about their experiences. His latest collaboration is with Ron Miscavige and their bestselling memoir, Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me.
Dan comments here at the Bunker under the name Joe Howard, and he explains to Jeff where that name comes from. Howard was a character Dan played in one of the tech films made by L. Ron Hubbard in California in 1978. Scientologists would have to watch the film repeatedly as they were learning their “training routines,” and so to many longtime Scientologists, “Joe Howard” is how they know Dan best.
Enjoy this look into Dan’s work on technical matters with L. Ron Hubbard and other subjects as Jeffrey takes us through another fun interview.
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National Enquirer stays on Ron Miscavige Jr.
The Enquirer is still hot on the story of Ron Miscavige Jr., which we pointed out was probably the result of a David Miscavige public relations backfire.
Normally, we would ignore something like this, a poorly written and jumbled piece that really adds nothing to the understanding of Scientology. However, one quote from the interview with Ron Jr. caught our eye and we decided to share it with you:
“I also got an intimidating phone call from my sister, Jenna, who’s in Sea Org,” said Ronald. “She tried to blackmail me to stop my dad from writing a book about Scientology.”
Um, say what? Ron Miscavige Jr. has a daughter named Jenna Miscavige Hill, who wrote about her famous uncle, David Miscavige, in her 2013 memoir, Beyond Belief. She’s been out of the Church of Scientology for years. And Ron Miscavige Jr’s only sisters are Denise and Lori, and neither of them are in the Sea Org.
What do you think are the chances we’ll get some clarification of this from the Enquirer?
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A note on the Dwayne and Daniel Powell story
A recent piece by Marty Rathbun has brought up discussion of last year’s big news that two Scientology private investigators, Dwayne Powell and his son Daniel, were hired by David Miscavige to follow his own father, Ron Miscavige Sr., and that at one point, David spoke directly to Dwayne and instructed the PIs not to intervene as Ron appeared to be having a heart attack. We’ve noticed some confusion online, however, about whether that claim was made by Dwayne or Daniel. Actually, it was made by both of them. Just to be clear that Dwayne did tell West Allis Police that he received a telephone call directly from David Miscavige, here is the relevant passage from the police report of the interview of Dwayne…
Rathbun, in attempting to undercut one of the central ideas of Ron Miscavige’s memoir, made the claim that this statement by the Powells must be mistaken because in his 27-year involvement in the church, he never saw David Miscavige talk directly to a private investigator.
We pointed out that in fact, two other private investigators who came forward after working for the Church of Scientology, Paul Marrick and Greg Arnold, told us personally that they had talked directly with Miscavige as they phoned in reports of their activities following Pat Broeker.
And Caroline Letkeman, at ESMB, pointed out that Marty himself, in his third book, Memoirs of a Scientology Warrior, describes giving in to David Miscavige’s demand that he speak directly with private investigator Gene Ingram in regards to surveillance of Gerry Armstrong.
So at this point we have to ask, are there any prominent Scientology private eyes who haven’t spoken directly with Miscavige?
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 3, 2016 at 07:00
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Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
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
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten 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 | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield
