Tony Ortega is a journalist who was formerly the editor of The Village Voice. He's written about Scientology since 1995, and in May 2015 released a book about Scientology's harassment of Paulette Cooper titled 'The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.' He continues to monitor breaking developments in the Scientology world from an undisclosed location in an underground bunker he shares with four cats and one of them wrinkly Shar Pei dogs. Despite his super-secret security protections, you can still reach him pretty easily by sending him a message at tonyo94 AT gmail.com (Drop him a line if you'd like to get an e-mail whenever a new story is posted.) [Header image courtesy John Rickard]
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Shocking molestation claims inside Scientology leaking out before ‘Aftermath’ episode

For several weeks, one of the stories that’s going to be featured on the third season of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath has been spinning out of control on social media, and at this point, especially after the last couple of days, it’s impossible to ignore what’s going []

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It’s ‘Declare your Independence of Scientology Day’ here again at the Underground Bunker

 Here in the United States it’s a red-letter day, and we have an annual tradition that we’re keeping alive here at the Underground Bunker. It’s Independence Day, and as in past years, we celebrate with the stories of Scientologists who have dissolved the bands that kept them in a totalitarian organization and declared their independence []

When Scientology’s toxic policy of disconnection is forever: Saying goodbye to Angela Paris

[Valeska and Angela Paris]

Valeska Paris recently posted a crushing note on Facebook about her stepmother, Angela. We asked her if she wanted to write a more lengthy piece for the Bunker, and we’re very glad that we []

Freed files: Scenes from a government investigation of Scientology

[E-meter machines being taken away during the 1958 raid in Washington]

In 1958, the Food and Drug Administration raided Scientology’s Washington DC org in an investigation of health claims that the church was making with its “E-meter.” Over the next several years, the FDA conducted an intense and widespread investigation of L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology []

Scientology celebrates 30 years of duping wealthy people on the high seas!

 Thanks to Pete Griffiths for making us aware that Scientology has posted its photos from this year’s Maiden Voyage activities at its website. []

Scientology scam: ‘It hadn’t occurred to me I was getting appalling advice from Church execs’

This week in our series of excerpts from books about Scientology, we have an excerpt from the newest addition to the pile, Chris Shugart’s Fractured Journey: A Personal Account of 30 Outrageous Years in the Church of Scientology. We specifically asked for this portion of the book, which practically drove us nuts when we read []

In Scientology, going Clear is like leasing a car, and David Miscavige is Repo Man

[“I take back Clear certs from dildos who don’t pay their bills.”]

Jeffrey Augustine was so excited about a software upgrade to his podcast, he immediately used it to interview Karen de la Carriere, his wife! And although Underground Bunker readers are pretty familiar with each of them, we think you’re going to get a lot []

Scientology rock ‘n’ roller goes back to his days with L. Ron Hubbard at sea

[Geoff Levin, signifying how he feels about Scientology today]

A few weeks ago, we wrote a brief piece about Geoff Levin and how he and the other members of the 60s rock band People! are getting back together, 50 years since they had a hit song and then joined Scientology’s Sea []

In the Sea Org, no one can hear you scream: Another small slice of Scientology horror

 Sunny Pereira has another startling tale from her days in Scientology’s Sea Org today. With medical standards like these, it’s a miracle there haven’t been more deaths (that we know []

VIDEO: ‘Chicago Fire’ star Christian Stolte’s tribute to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard

 If you were with us in Chicago for HowdyCon this weekend, you know that a real highlight was Chicago Fire star Christian Stolte’s appearance during our Saturday night []