Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Yesterday we received a letter from attorneys for Seven News, asking us to take down the ‘Scientology Black Ops’ series.

Seven News had spent months putting together Bryan Seymour’s ten-part investigation of Scientology only to cancel it at the [...]]]>

Well, it was fun while it lasted.

Yesterday we received a letter from attorneys for Seven News, asking us to take down the ‘Scientology Black Ops’ series.

Seven News had spent months putting together Bryan Seymour’s ten-part investigation of Scientology only to cancel it at the last minute before its scheduled July 14 premiere.

Two of the people who were filmed for the series, Leah Remini and her A&E costar Mike Rinder, told us they believed that the series was killed through the influence of actor Tom Cruise and former Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis, who both take a beating in the program. Remini and Rinder told us they believed that Davis and Cruise persuaded their friend James Packer (an Australian billionaire who was in Scientology from 2001 to 2006 and is still friendly with Davis) to lean on his close friend Seven News chairman Kerry Stokes to get the series axed.

However, beginning on August 31, we revealed that episodes of Scientology Black Ops were being leaked to the Internet. Eventually all ten episodes were leaked online, and we embedded those videos here at the Bunker.

Then, a week ago, we received a letter from Australian attorneys at Pikes & Verekers representing Tommy Davis, who wanted us to turn over information about the series and to pull down episodes two and four, which Tommy claimed were defamatory. We published the letter and did nothing.

But now we’ve received a letter from Addisons, representing Seven News…

Dear Sirs

Seven Network

We act for the Seven Network Australia (Seven), which you are presumably aware is one of Australia’s leading free to air television networks. Seven is also a leading content owner and producer.

Our client is aware that you have been ‘leaked’ a copy of its series titled “Scientology: Black Ops” (the Series) which is currently being published by you on your eponymous website, www.tonyortega.org.

Our client has not provided any authority for you (or anyone, in fact) to publish the Series which comprises its valuable intellectual property, including copyright.

Seven’s enquiries are continuing as to how and by whom this series was provided to you but confirms that without our client’s specific authority, publication of the Series continues to be a serious infringement of its intellectual property rights. Moreover, you should be aware that Seven has received complaints by persons featured in the Series threatening to sue for defamation. As publisher of the Series on your website you would be liable for claims from such parties.

Accordingly, we require you to cease publication of the Series immediately.

Please confirm that you will do so. In the meantime, our client reserves its rights.

Your faithfully

Justine Munsie

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Partner

 
As a result of receiving this letter, we wanted to tell our readers about the two things we’ve decided to do about it.

First, we are removing our embed links to the videos. We don’t think they are defamatory of Tommy Davis, we think they’re the truth, and they’re backed up by sworn court testimony. However, we’re one dude with a laptop in New York, and we don’t have the resources to take on a court fight in Australia over videos we did not produce.

Second, we are reminding our readers that after Seven News killed the series on July 14, but before the episodes began leaking, it looked like the public might never get to see this excellent series.

Leah Remini was very unhappy about that. She had been filmed for the series (as had we) so she knew what Bryan Seymour was going to reveal: Tommy Davis’s “dirt file” on legendary publicist Pat Kingsley, and his attempt to get Paul Haggis’s SAG/AFTRA confidential file by pressuring a former guild employee who was a Scientologist.

Leah revealed to us that she had written about these things for a chapter of her book Troublemaker that was never published. So, prompted by Seven News trying to suppress the material, she turned over to us that unpublished chapter and, after talking to her and editing the material, we posted it here on July 27.

Tommy Davis may not like episodes two and four of Scientology Black Ops, which tell that story of his underhanded work for the church in order to blackmail Pat Kingsley and dig up dirt on Paul Haggis, but the same story was already posted here on July 27 thanks to Leah Remini, and there’s nothing Tommy can do about it.

So, while we’re sure you’re disappointed that the video segments of Seymour’s excellent series will no longer be available at the Underground Bunker, we hope you keep in mind that the material that made Tommy angry, real angry, is still told in full at this web page. We hope you help us spread it far and wide.

 
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Mark Bunker: Should Clearwater partner with Scientology?

Says Mark: “The Clearwater City Council held two sessions so far to discuss priorities going forward. We started with a free-flowing conversation about Scientology’s impact our downtown and how we should move forward.”

 
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In July the Australian Seven News network cancelled at the last minute a ten-part nightly news in-depth investigation of the Church of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks operations. All ten episodes were leaked to the Internet, and we (temporarily) posted embeds of the video segments and then collected all ten links in one place. Judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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.

 
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Source Code

“Before we developed a good port PRO [Public Relations Officer] actions and good local area PRO actions, were very often in trouble. We were in trouble in the most remarkable ways. But it wasn’t really Scientologists that got us into trouble. The biggest amount of trouble that happened in Spain was a commercial licensed engineer who turned homo and was that way with hired Spanish hands who then went to the police and complained about this English engineer. And he was dismissed and the whole thing was handled. But it still sits in the office of information in Spain. See? Not as a handled situation but that there’s something, you know? And they’re having a lot of trouble lately with hippies. They aren’t counting the communists that they’ve got in their midst — Minister of Defense, Minister of Shipping, Franco’s first adjutant, second aide, Chamberlain — they aren’t counting these guys, they’ve gotta get these hippies. You see it has no political sense at all. If you knocked off every hippie in Spain you would not have strengthened its political position a minute.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 21, 1969

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“LRH said that ‘democracy’ in this prison planet is bullshit! Democrats are ‘Demonocrats’ = Tyranny by granting democracy to entities! Lets as-is that. Hopefully some Democrats vanish to source.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2002: Signonsandiego.com reported that Narconon has received permission from the planning commission to operate a facility in Warner Springs, California. “The Narconon center would be housed in a former motel and two houses off state Route 79. It would serve up to 30 people ages 18 to 25, and they would be treated by a staff of 15, three who would live at the center. Patients would pay $22,000 to participate in a voluntary six-month program. The project – which had many supporters at yesterday’s commission hearing – was approved in a 4-0 vote, with Michael York absent. But opponents vow to appeal the project to the Board of Supervisors.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Do you really think a guy who texts ‘YSCOHB’ to people has the self awareness to realize that Kirstie is making his business look bad?”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Demurrer filed by Masterson, arraignment delayed to November 2.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 29 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for a writ of mandate filed with Cal 2nd Appellate District, Sept 10.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Oct 19: Feshbachs still considering further appellate relief.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.

 
——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] David Miscavige at Scientology’s IAS event: What he claims, and what’s really going on
[TWO years ago] Scientology and hurricanes: Providing storms of comic relief in one disaster after another
[THREE years ago] KID CORPS: Scientology’s internal documents lay out its disturbing ideas about children
[FOUR years ago] TOM CRUISE PENTHOUSE IN SCIENTOLOGY’S SPIRITUAL MECCA? WE HAVE THE PLANS
[FIVE years ago] Laura DeCrescenzo answers Scientology ‘religion’ gambit on eve of key hearing
[SIX years ago] Vance Woodward files motion to reconsider his dismissed lawsuit against Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] The Flaw In Scientology’s Religious Outrage Theory: A Man Named Steven Gregory Sloat
[EIGHT years ago] Sunday Funnies: Let’s Put Scientology Kids to Work!
[NINE years ago] Scientology and Forced Abortions: Testimony of an Enforcer

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 21, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

 We get some pretty interesting mail here at the Underground Bunker.

Take this week’s winner, for example.

Pikes & VerekersLawyersLevel 250 King StreetSydney 2000

14 October 2020

Mr Tony OrtegaThe Underground BunkerBY EMAIL tonyo94@gmail.com

NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Dear Sir

MR TOMMY DAVISOur ref RT:JE:200651

We act for Mr Thomas William Davis, widely known as [...]]]>

 
We get some pretty interesting mail here at the Underground Bunker.

Take this week’s winner, for example.

Pikes & Verekers
Lawyers
Level 2
50 King Street
Sydney 2000

14 October 2020

Mr Tony Ortega
The Underground Bunker
BY EMAIL tonyo94@gmail.com

NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Dear Sir

MR TOMMY DAVIS
Our ref RT:JE:200651

We act for Mr Thomas William Davis, widely known as “Tommy Davis”.

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As you are no doubt aware, the trailer for and 10 episodes of a proposed series of documentary programs intended to be broadcast in Australia by the Seven Network entitled “Scientology Black Ops” (the Series) have been published on your website “The Underground Bunker” at the address https://tonyortega.org (your website).

Each episode of the Series available on your website includes the logo “7news.com.au”.

Your website claims that the Series “has been leaked to the Internet”.

Episodes 2 and 4 of the Series are defamatory of our client and he is considering bringing proceedings in Australia for damages for defamation.

Our enquiries of Seven News (Operations) Ltd and Seven West Media Ltd (the Channel Seven entities) and their lawyers made:

1. 24 September 2020 (to the Channel Seven entities) and
2. 6 October 2020 (to their lawyers)

as to how the Series came to be published on your website made 24 September 2020 (to the Channel Seven entities) and 6 October 2020 (to their lawyers) as to how the Series has been published in full on your website have not produced a reply.

From the above facts, our client believes that the Channel Seven entities, or their servants or agents, have provided you or your servants or agents with the Series in full in order that it be published on your website. It also appears that the Channel Seven entities own the copyright in the Series and not you.

So that our client may properly consider his rights and whether he should commence the foreshadowed proceedings and against whom, we request that you forthwith provide to us copies of:

1. Any communications between the Channel Seven entities or any of their servants or agents on the one hand and

a. you or any of your servants or agents or
b. persons or entities responsible for the publication of The Underground Bunker/tonyortega.org websites in the period 1 July 2020 to date

which:

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i. provide the Series in digital or other form;
ii. refer to the Series.

2. Any agreement that you have with the Channel Seven entities in relation to the Series.

3. Any communications from the Channel Seven entities or any of their servants or agents to you or any of your servants or agents which record any:

a. claim that the publication of the Series on your website is a breach of their copyright; and/or
b. requests by any of the Channel Seven entities that the Series be taken down from your website.

Further, our client requires that Episodes 2 and 4 of the Series be immediately taken down from your websites in order to prevent further damage to his reputation.

In the circumstances, our client requests full and timely cooperation from you with these requests. If we do not receive a substantive response from you by 4pm on Monday 19 October 2020 our client will commence court proceedings against the Channel Seven entities to obtain the information and documents sought, above.

Our client otherwise reserves his rights.

This letter is not for publication.

Yours faithfully

Robert Tassell
Partner

If we don’t pull down Episode 2 and Episode 4 of Scientology Black Ops, Tommy Davis will sue the Aussie television network that screwed over Bryan Seymour and the other people who appeared in the series?

Um.

Promise?

 
——————–

Jon Atack ropes in your proprietor

One of the great successes of the Underground Bunker was securing the services of Jon Atack for a series of columns during the early years of this website. Author of one of the best books about Scientology, ‘Let’s Sell Them a Piece of Blue Sky,” Atack provided us with amazing insights. These days he’s making good use of YouTube, and he asked us to join him for a chat. We were happy to oblige.

 
——————–

In July the Australian Seven News network cancelled at the last minute a ten-part nightly news in-depth investigation of the Church of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks operations. All ten episodes have now been leaked to the Internet, and we’ve collected all ten links in one place. Judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.

 
——————–

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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.

 
——————–

Source Code

“Everybody is a southpaw earlier on the track, and they’ve shifted over in desperation to the right hand. Well, this southpaw in space opera came about — para-Scientology — came about where the individual carried his gun on the left-hand side of the body and drew it and used it with the left hand (the blaster and so forth). And you’ll find that people are very, very unwilling to use their left hands. They just don’t want to — don’t want to use that left hand and — because it kills people. Just as simple as that. And when people get killed their emotional kickback and so forth, is telegraphed through on the back blast and it makes one feel bad and one goes on down Tone Scale on a — on the overt act-motivator mechanism.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 17, 1953

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“I think Trump might be an angel, or an alien with some of the powers you guys imagine for an OT. He certainly is a ‘Big Being.’ I keep catching glimpses of a column of white light 10 feet across coming down from above surrounding, protecting and empowering him.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

2002: Reuters reported that a second Scientologist will plead guilty in the Reed Slatkin investment scam. “A man who allegedly tried to obstruct a Securities and Exchange Commission investigation into EarthLink Inc. financier Reed Slatkin has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges, authorities said on Tuesday. Daniel W. Jacobs is charged with conspiring to obstruct an SEC investigation into Slatkin, who pleaded guilty in April to 15 charges of fraud and conspiracy for bilking nearly 800 clients out of $600 million in an elaborate Ponzi scheme.”

 
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Random Howdy

“I’m still amazed considering the subject of this forum when I read folks wondering about the efficacy of homeopathy, naturopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic medicine etc. People, assume everything’s a scam or magical thinking and work it back from there.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Demurrer filed by Masterson, arraignment delayed to October 19.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 29 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for a writ of mandate filed with Cal 2nd Appellate District, Sept 10.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Update required in federal lawsuit on Oct 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.

 
——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] He freed key documents from Scientology’s rehabs, and now he can talk about it
[TWO years ago] Scientology tried to ruin her. Now, Sylvia DeWall has a message for her former friends and family.
[THREE years ago] On tonight’s ‘Leah Remini,’ reality star Mimi Faust takes on Scientology’s harm to family
[FOUR years ago] Scientology finally uses trillions of years of wisdom for something useful: The perfect burger
[FIVE years ago] When Scientology makes you a villain, you understand that it rules its members by fear
[SIX years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige gets in just under the wire in NAFC lawsuit
[SEVEN years ago] Starting Today: Jefferson Hawkins Helps Us Get Our Scientology Ethics In!
[EIGHT years ago] Texas Blues: David Miscavige Forsakes The Largest State in the Lower 48
[NINE years ago] Scientology Mailbag: We Hear it from Church Members

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 17, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

 ‘The Reckoning,’ the tenth and final episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

All ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also [...]]]>

 
‘The Reckoning,’ the tenth and final episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

All ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer it had made for the series. On August 31, we found that the first episode in the series had been leaked, and we embedded it along with a transcript we prepared. We also did the same for the second episode, ‘Witness X,’ on Sept 4, the third episode, ‘Taken,’ on Sept 11, the fourth episode, ‘The Star,’ on Sept 14, the fifth episode, ‘Always Attack,’ on Sep 17, the sixth episode, ‘Dirty Tricks’ on Sept 21, the seventh episode, ‘Celebrity,’ on Sept 27, the eighth episode, ‘Betrayal’, on Sept 30, and the ninth episode, “Accused”, on Oct 5.

We’ve done the same for the tenth episode, in which 7NEWS reporter Bryan Seymour wraps up what has been a stunning achievement in reporting and presentation.

Here’s the video, and then the transcript. (For those confused by the length of these short “episodes,” please keep in mind that this was a nightly news investigation and these segments were created to run during a news broadcast, not as longer shows on their own.)

 

[UPDATE: After a request from attorneys representing Seven News, we have removed the embed links to the leaked ‘Scientology Black Ops’ episodes. See our reasons why in this story.]

 
Episode title: The Reckoning

Bryan Seymour: What about the people watching this thinking oh well he’s had two years, he hasn’t done an interview. Of course he’s coming out now, he’s had time to prepare this performance to defend himself, to say he’s not defending himself, to reject any of the allegations, and to suggest that it’s all some master plot by Scientology. What would you say to the people watching this who are deeply cynical?

Paul Haggis: I don’t want them to believe me. I don’t want them to believe me. Honestly, I don’t care. I want to prove my innocence in a court of law. I’m really uncomfortable doing this with you, really uncomfortable. I don’t want to be here doing this.

Seymour: Why are you doing it?

Haggis: Because you’ve told me and others have told me that there is compelling evidence that something is happening here that’s bigger. And I don’t want that happening to me and I don’t want it happening to others, because I don’t want to be a cautionary tale.

Seymour: Paul Haggis will get his day in court. His accuser Haleigh Breest’s civil action in New York is due to go to trial, though it may not be until next year. A potential day of reckoning for one of them.

 
Tony Hitchman: In Scientology, what is good and bad? Does it conform to the normal moral standards of society?

L. Ron Hubbard: Oh yes, very much so. Very much so. Same.

Leah Remini: You train in Scientology, day in, day out, two and a half hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for all of your life to “confront” the planet and to solve all man’s ills. And yet you cannot even be in the same room with somebody who is telling the truth about your cult.

Seymour: Yep. Yep.

Remini: Does that say something? They’re supposed to be able to confront and shatter evil, but they cannot sit in a room with their own fathers, their own mothers, and that just goes to show you that Scientology does not work.

Seymour: Where do you hope to be five years from now?

Haggis: Well I’d like to say here, but I’m selling this place. So, I want to be back being able to write, being able to tell stories, to be able to, I love doing that, something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid. And I miss that terribly right now. But I truly, I want my family to be able to be proud of me. Now I know they are, I know they’re very proud of me for standing up. They always have been. They continue. But I can’t help feeling very guilty for all this, and for them. I mean, they’re, what they have to live with right now, that shouldn’t be the case.

 
Seymour: Thank you for talking to me, Paul.

Haggis: Thank you for coming and doing this.

Seymour: All right.

Haggis: I only half regret it.

Seymour: No worries. Good on you, man.

Haggis: Thank you.

Seymour: If Scientology’s behind this, does Haleigh Breest or the accusers, do they know they’re being exploited? Is Scientology not involved in this at all, are they legitimately telling the truth? Again, these are all matters that all of these people, I’m interviewing have strong feelings on. But it’s not my job to resolve them or prosecute that case. Certainly a lot has already been reported in the media by Ms. Breest’s lawyers. They have not shied away from dropping to the press, from commenting and putting their argument forward. What I’m doing is reporting the story I can confirm. The events that we do know about, that we have confirmed, what do the people involved in Scientology say about it? Why did you do that? Did the celebrities know? Now that they do, what do they think about it? I’ve done so many stories and there have been so many exposes on Scientology, I’d like to think this one will call the crazy game to order. When are we going to step in and say no more?

Remini: We’re just not in a time, now, where it’s OK not to do the right thing. You have to do something. You have to do something about it.

Seymour: It’s the hope of everyone who’s suffered abuse at the hands of these people, that very soon that sign will come down and this group will be out of action. Hopefully the day of reckoning is very near. It’s long overdue. Hopefully, this will be something we don’t see in five or ten years, Scientologists on Hollywood Boulevard trying to rope in new victims.

Hubbard: Well it’s very interesting. The more you try to help man physically, why they, apparently, the less progress you make.

 
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS

Episode 1: ‘Leaving’
Episode 2: ‘Witness X’
Episode 3: ‘Taken’
Episode 4: ‘The Star’
Episode 5: ‘Always Attack’

 
——————–

Source Code

“Anderson, Q.C., Melbourne inquiry. Complete gibbering psychotic idiot. Up to the gills with R-6. ‘Scientology must be wrong, because we cannot explain where all the new bodies come from. All the new spirits. Where would all the new spirits come from if everybody had a spirit, why, where would all the new spirits come from, huh?’ Actually, what he didn’t realize, this silly ass — he was disproving Catholicism. Catholicism claims there’s one spirit per body, so he was asking some silly little kid question that is asked of his own religion, Catholicism. And yet he was busy hanging Scientology because it couldn’t… You get the irrationality of it? The man occupies a perfectly valid position. He’s looked on. He’s a Queens’ consulate. Actually he’s just a gibbering idiot. You probably couldn’t even catch him to get a straight jacket on him.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 9, 1968

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“I did some paranormal abilities training before knowing about Scientology. I remember one of the first paranormal detections I did many times about Scientology: I detected that it would degrade and degenerate; but I didn’t expect it would happen so soon. I’m glad that even though the Church of Scientology has been degraded, there are people outside the church doing sane and good Scientology.”

Past is Prologue

1997: The battle to keep the Xenu Leaflet available on the Web continues, as attacks from Scientology are reported by Andreas Heldal-Lund. “The cult lawyers have attached a print-out from the front page of Operation Clambake. They have erased the name ‘XENU’ from the printout, now it says ‘The ____ Leaflet’. Then it’s the rest of the letter from my lawyer. And I don’t understand how a highly respected law firm like Haavind & Haga can take on a job for such a shabby organisation like this ‘church’. Has it gone totally unnoticed by the law firm what kind of tragedies this ‘church’ has given people? I will do my part to make it as hard as possible for this ‘church’. My goal is to close down this con man organisation in Norway once and for all.'”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“This place is nuts, but not half as nuts as YouTube. It’s just a little bit more serious and astute and friendly.”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Demurrer filed by Masterson, arraignment delayed to October 19.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 29 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for a writ of mandate filed with Cal 2nd Appellate District, Sept 10.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Update required in federal lawsuit on Oct 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

 
——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] CLEARWATER APOCALYPSE! No, not really. But let’s help Scientology run its new board
[TWO years ago] What it was like last night at Scientology’s Los Angeles TV ‘season’ premiere party
[THREE years ago] BLOCKBUSTER EXCLUSIVE: It turns out the National Enquirer is blowing smoke again
[FOUR years ago] EXCLUSIVE: Recent deaths of Scientology rehab staffers points to ongoing problem
[FIVE years ago] The Scientology-Ireland connection that propelled Cathriona White to Hollywood
[SIX years ago] Ryan Hamilton files two more federal lawsuits against Scientology’s drug rehab network
[SEVEN years ago] Anonymous and Craigslist: Proof that Scientology Knows It’s Under Attack

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on October 9, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

 ‘Accused,’ the ninth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer [...]]]>

 
‘Accused,’ the ninth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer it had made for the series. On August 31, we found that the first episode in the series had been leaked, and we embedded it along with a transcript we prepared. We also did the same for the second episode, ‘Witness X,’ on Sept 4, the third episode, ‘Taken,’ on Sept 11, the fourth episode, ‘The Star,’ on Sept 14, the fifth episode, ‘Always Attack,’ on Sep 17, the sixth episode, ‘Dirty Tricks’ on Sept 21, the seventh episode, ‘Celebrity’ on Sept 27, and the eighth episode, ‘Betrayal’, on Sept 30.

We’ve done the same for the ninth episode, in which 7NEWS reporter Bryan Seymour puts it to director Paul Haggis directly: Did he rape Haleigh Breest?

Here’s the video, and then the transcript. (For those confused by the length of these short “episodes,” please keep in mind that this was a nightly news investigation and these segments were created to run during a news broadcast, not as longer shows on their own.)

 

[UPDATE: After a request from attorneys representing Seven News, we have removed the embed links to the leaked ‘Scientology Black Ops’ episodes. See our reasons why in this story.]

 
Episode title: ACCUSED

Scientology Attack Video: Haleigh Breest came forward with explosive allegations against him, of assault and rape.

Bryan Seymour: Paul, did you rape Haleigh Breest?

Paul Haggis: Of course I didn’t. No.

Seymour: Why would she make that up?

Haggis: It’s a good question. I don’t know. You know, obviously, you get accused of doing something like that and you know you didn’t do it, I know where I was, I know it was a one-night stand. I know what happened.

Seymour: It was here.

Seymour: Did Paul rape Haleigh Breest?

Deborah Rennard: No. Absolutely not. No question in my mind.

Seymour: And how can you be so certain?

Rennard: Because I know who Paul is. And I’ve seen, I’ve known him for 27 years. I’ve seen him in every situation you could be in. I mean, I was married to him. We lived together for six years and then we were married for another 13. He was, he has, like I said, he’s bent over backwards to help women in the business. What she’s saying happened is ridiculous. I mean just, everything she’s said, I went, I don’t buy it. I don’t buy it at all, on any level.

Seymour: In December 2017, a publicist named Haleigh Breest filed a civil action alleging Paul Haggis had raped her in 2013, when she was 26 years old. She claimed she met the director at a function, and he invited her to his New York apartment. He claims they had consensual sex. She claimed he forced himself on her. Ms. Breest claims you said to her, ‘You’re scared of me, aren’t you?’ As though you had some sort of misogynistic, violent, sexual approach to her. Did you say that?

Haggis: No, of course I didn’t. I have to be a little careful here because there’s a confidentiality order in place which I really wish wasn’t in place. But in order to have the trial proceed two years ago, we had to sign a confidentiality order. So, assuming that what you’ve learned you’ve learned in public, I can respond to it. But…I would so wish that they would just release the text messages, release the mails, release everything because it proves my innocence, absolutely proves my innocence.

Seymour: He claims sealed documents, including texts and emails sent by Ms. Breest in the days after their encounter prove it was consensual. But her lawyers are fighting to keep the documents under seal. They say they are typical of a victim in denial.

 
Priya Chaudhry My name is Priya Chaudhry, I’m the founding partner of Chaudhry Law, and I represent Paul Haggis.

Seymour: How confident are you those emails and texts will exonerate Paul and prove that Paul Haggis did not rape anyone?

Chaudhry: A hundred and ten percent.

Seymour: Why are you so certain?

Chaudhry: There’s behavior of people who are the victims of crime that is consistent. And there are behaviors of people who are not the victims of crime that’s consistent. And the behavior and the evidence that her own lawyers are desperately trying to make sure nobody sees before trial is what we really want the world to see, both at trial and before trial. And once people see that, they will see with their own common experience that this did not happen the way Haleigh Breest says it happened. It happened the way Paul Haggis says it happened.

Seymour: Three more women, all anonymous and claiming to have no links to the Church of Scientology, also came forward, speaking through lawyers alleging they too were victims of sexually inappropriate conduct by Paul Haggis.

Haggis: The two women have alleged that I kissed them, and one from 26 years ago alleged that I’d raped her.

Seymour: Again, why would they come forward, albeit anonymously, and make these claims against such a high-profile person unless they were true.

Haggis: I have no idea. I honestly have no idea. All I know is they aren’t true. That’s what I know. Now, have I misread signals in my life? Absolutely. I’ve, have I tried to kiss somebody and had them turn their cheek? Have I misread a signal like that? Absolutely I’ve done that. I don’t know any man who hasn’t. I’m certainly guilty of that. Have I attacked somebody, have I forced something, tried to kiss someone, have I raped someone? No.

 
Seymour: Unlike other prominent #MeToo cases, none of Haggis’s accusers have made complaints to police. His case has been conducted in the court of public opinion, where he made his name and where it can be destroyed.

Chaudhry: So in New York State there’s two ways to have a rape charge. One is somebody goes to the police and then the prosecutor evaluates the case and decides whether or not to charge them in a criminal case of rape. That never happened here. The other way is a person can go to a civil court and file a case and sue someone. Anyone can sue anyone in this country, and you can sue them and say that they raped me. And you can ask the court then to give you money.

Seymour: Haggis claims Haleigh Breest initially asked him for $9 million to stay quiet. She’s not known to be a Scientologist. The other three accusers were recently removed from the case in a precedent-setting ruling that the alleged rape can be heard as a hate crime against women, the first under a new New York law. Ms. Breest and the other accusers are being represented by legal firm Emery Celli Brinckerhoff & Abady. This law firm bills New York rates, and in the Paul Haggis case, that’s likely to be in the millions.

Chaudhry: If I had to estimate, from the time that they filed this lawsuit against him to now, I would say their legal fees, just doing some rough math on their hours would be in the millions, somewhere north of two million, south of five million?

Seymour: In a statement Ms. Breest’s lawyers told us, “In this case if Paul Haggis loses, he will be required to pay our attorney fees and costs. Firms like ours take on these cases when we believe in our client and the case, as we do here. You can read their full statement on our website. Scientology denies emphatically that it has anything to do with it. But the church has certainly reveled in the allegations, posting numerous commentaries and videos online.

Scientology attack video: Rushing to Haggis’s defense was Leah Remini and co-host Mike Rinder.

Seymour: You both came out straightaway and said you believed Scientology is behind the allegations against Paul Haggis. Do you still believe that?

Leah Remini: Yep.

Mike Rinder: Absolutely. There is no question in my mind, Bryan.

Rennard: This is completely absurd, you know. I mean, you could accuse Paul of a lot of things, but being a rapist is not one of them.

Seymour: Deborah Rennard wrote a public letter supporting her ex-husband, arguing some of the claims made against him were factually wrong.

Haggis: When I read your letter…I don’t cry…

Rennard: I know you don’t. But Paul you deserve it. This is the thing. You, that’s why I wrote that letter, because you are always the champion for every underdog.

Rinder: And, you know, I told you, and I started telling you, this is what’s going to happen next, and here’s what’s going to happen next, and this is what’s going to occur. And that is exactly what happens. And why do I know that, it’s not because I’m a clairvoyant, it’s because I’ve studied the policies that these people are operating on.

 
Remini: You just gotta, you gotta get through this part. This is the part that Scientology banks on you not making it through this part.

Haggis: Well, they’re doing a pretty good job so far.

Remini: No, but Paul, and this is what I was telling, what we were telling Bryan earlier, is the purpose of it is to take away all of your support, right? Financially. Eventually, you will recover.

Haggis: Yeah.

Seymour: What do you personally believe. Do you personally believe that Paul Haggis is innocent?

Chaudhry: A hundred percent. Yes.

Seymour: Can you say that about all of your clients?

Chaudhry: No.

 
Title card: NEXT

Haggis: There is compelling evidence that something is happening here that’s bigger.

Remini: You have to do something. You have to do something about it.

 
——————–

In court today: Serving Miscavige by publication

At Los Angeles Superior Court this morning, Judge Steven Kleifield is scheduled to make a ruling on whether Danny Masterson’s rape accusers can serve Scientology leader David Miscavige their lawsuit by publication as a last resort. They first filed their lawsuit in August 2019 against Masterson, Miscavige, and the church, alleging that the defendants have subjected them to a campaign of harassment since 2016 when they came forward to the LAPD. Since that time they say that Miscavige has been evading service. Miscavige’s attorneys argue that the women just haven’t tried hard enough to catch him.

Tomorrow an even more important hearing is scheduled when Masterson’s demurrer will be heard, which is his attempt to get out of the lawsuit.

 
——————–

Source Code

“The most serious barrier that an auditor has to overcome in Security Checking is not necessarily his own case, but a courage in asking . . to ask the questions. You know, that’s kind of a raw, mean, brassy sort of a thing to do. You sit down. Here’s this nice young girl. Everybody knows she’s a virgin. Everybody knows this. And you’re in very good ARC with her and everything is going to go along fine. And then you say to her, crassly and meanly, ‘Have you ever committed any carnal sins of any character or another? Have you ever been to bed in the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong man?’ And put it mildly, this is a startling question. But since I’ve started security checking, I haven’t found any virgins.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 5, 1961

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“You can’t measure time in years to another universe, it’s another universe outside the time reference of this universe. So basically incident zero occurs in this universe and that’s it. It’s out-ethics to evaluate incidents to run. The processes quite simply run a person into a network of implant stations which programs people into cycles of action operating across the entire tone scale.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1995: An essay by Jon Atack, “Hubbard and the Occult” was posted this week. “Scientology seems to be a hybrid of science-fiction and magic. Hubbard’s reflection on philosophy seem to derive largely from Will Durant’s Story of Philosophy (13) and the works of Aleister Crowley. Aleister Crowley is surely the most famous black magician of the twentieth-century. It is impossible to arrive at an understanding of Scientology without taking into account its creator’s extensive involvement with magic. The trail has been so well obscured in the past that even such a scholar as Professor Gordon Melton has been deceived into the opinion that Hubbard was not a practitioner of ritual magic and that Scientology is not related to magical beliefs and practices. In the book A Piece of Blue Sky, I explored these connections in detail. The revelations surrounding Hubbard’s private papers in the 1984 Armstrong case in California makes any denial of the connections fatuous. The significance of these connections is of course open to discussion.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“It will take a Snowball of Theta to save the planet from the Hairball of Entheta that is growing bigger in Basement Cat’s belly by the day.”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Demurrer filed by Masterson, arraignment delayed to October 19.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 29 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for a writ of mandate filed with Cal 2nd Appellate District, Sept 10.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Oct 5 (Serving Miscavige by publication), Oct 6 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Update required in federal lawsuit on Oct 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

 
——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Fight Scientology, and you can end up paying the price for years and years
[TWO years ago] Buried in US archives, a stunning indictment of Scientology and prediction of the future
[THREE years ago] Never before seen: Video of a woman moments after achieving superhuman Scientology powers
[FOUR years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Scientology’s secret saucer-looking underground vault in Northern California
[FIVE years ago] VIDEO LEAK: Scientology’s New Year’s Eve 2006, when Leah Remini was still a front-row celeb!
[SIX years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology wants your child, even if it’s not yet born!
[SEVEN years ago] Claire Headley Gets Us Prepped for Scientology’s OT Levels!
[EIGHT years ago] Oregon Dentist Ordered to Pay $348,000 After Pressuring an Employee to Attend Scientology Symposium: The FULL Order!
[NINE years ago] Johnny Depp and Vanity Fair: Confused About Scientology, Or Just Trolling?
[ELEVEN years ago] Google and Twitter Slow To Take Down Slanderous Impersonation of a Scientology Critic

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on October 5, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

 ‘Betrayal,’ the eighth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer [...]]]>

 
‘Betrayal,’ the eighth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer it had made for the series. On August 31, we found that the first episode in the series had been leaked, and we embedded it along with a transcript we prepared. We also did the same for the second episode, ‘Witness X,’ on Sept 4, the third episode, ‘Taken,’ on Sept 11, the fourth episode, ‘The Star,’ on Sept 14, the fifth episode, ‘Always Attack,’ on Sep 17, the sixth episode, ‘Dirty Tricks’ on Sept 21, and the seventh episode, ‘Celebrity’ on Sept 27.

We’ve done the same for the eighth episode, in which 7NEWS reporter Bryan Seymour learns that Paul Haggis was writing a television series to portray Scientology’s history of spying and sabotage, but that he shared his secret plans with someone he shouldn’t have, former Scientology enforcer Marty Rathbun.

Here’s the video, and then the transcript. (For those confused by the length of these short “episodes,” please keep in mind that this was a nightly news investigation and these segments were created to run during a news broadcast, not as longer shows on their own.)

 

[UPDATE: After a request from attorneys representing Seven News, we have removed the embed links to the leaked ‘Scientology Black Ops’ episodes. See our reasons why in this story.]

 
Episode title: BETRAYAL

Bryan Seymour: Heroes and villains. Do you think much about that when you’re writing these characters, and do you draw from people you know, particularly people in Scientology?

Paul Haggis: I have. And I have of recent.

Seymour: Do tell.

Haggis: OK, no one knows this…

Seymour: In 2015, Paul Haggis decided to try his hand at television again. The dual Oscar winner had an idea for a streaming series.

 
Haggis: I decided to tell the true story of the Guardian’s Office and the Office of Special Affairs, starting in the 60s and 70s. And this, as you may know, I’m sure you do know, was formed by two women who desperately believed that Hubbard was about to save the world. One was his wife. And these two women did incredible things in defense of Scientology, destroying their enemies and infiltrating the US government and a lot of other governments. In fact they ran the single most effective spy operation and infiltration of the American government of all time. The Russians, the Israelis, no one’s ever got close to what they were able to do.

Seymour: You’re talking about Operation Snow White.

Haggis: Yes, yes. And that I found remarkable and decided to tell that story. So I, I didn’t tell my agents, it was too risky. I didn’t tell my producing partner, Michael. I didn’t tell anyone. Except, I told Marty. Because Marty I trusted. He’d left Scientology, he was criticizing them, he had a blog. He’d helped me personally.

Seymour: That was a critical mistake. Marty Rathbun was David Miscavige’s henchman, his top lieutenant, who had a reputation for brutally enforcing his leader’s will.

Bert Deixler: Well, would you read into the record…

Marty Rathbun: This is an internal Scientology record.

Seymour: Rathbun left Scientology in 2004 and became its fiercest ever critic, blowing the lid off the violent, abusive behavior of David Miscavige and detailing a string of explosive revelations, including the filming of Tom Cruise’s private intimate confessions, wire-tapping Nicole Kidman, and numerous operations to attack and silence critics.

Squirrel Buster John Allender: Come on, Marty. Got anything to say?

Seymour: Marty himself came under intense attack from Scientology’s goons called ‘Squirrel Busters.’

 
Allender: I’m with Squirrel Busters Productions doing an investigation on you.

Rathbun: I say get off my property, boy.

Squirrel Busters: Marty, you can’t do that. Marty!

Rathbun: I just did it.

Izzy Chait: You’ve always been important, you need to start being important again to us.

Jenny Linson: Nobody gives a fuck about you, that’s the truth. Why don’t you do something with your life? You’re an embarrassment. An embarrassment to the fact that you were ever, ever connected to us.

Seymour: But in early 2017 Rathbun stunned those who escaped Scientology by starting to appear in videos online…

Rathbun: Spineless coward.

Seymour: …supporting Scientology, and attacking those he’d previously stood with, including Leah Remini, Mike Rinder, and Tony Ortega.

 
Rathbun: Leah would act as if she were being persecuted by Scientology for disagreeing with it and for having all this scandalous quote-unquote information about it.

Leah Remini: When Marty Rathbun left and was speaking out against, you know, Scientology abusive practices, Scientology of course put a website up of Marty, went to destroy Marty, right, following the Fair Game policy. All of a sudden Marty turns, is back in good graces with Scientology, where are the attacks from Scientology?

Seymour: They’ve gone, disappeared.

Remini: Interesting.

Seyour: Coincidence?

Remini: Isn’t that crazy how that happens? I think not.

Tony Ortega: Marty Rathbun in particular is so interesting because he’s going on these new videos, but we have him on the record from before…

Seymour: Saying the opposite.

Ortega: …in court documents saying the exact opposite.

 
Seymour: Marty’s back-flip was a stunning betrayal of many, including Paul Haggis. This happened right before Paul Haggis was first accused of sexual misconduct. It could be a coincidence. Or, it could be something more. Do you remember when you approached Marty and told him about the idea you had for this show?

Haggis: Yeah, I think I sent him the email and the outline for what became the Guardian’s, the end of 2015. There’s another famous story, infamous story of a murder, well, a death in Los — in Florida, and that, and I knew two of the people who had been involved in the coverup.

Seymour: You’re talking about the Lisa McPherson case.

Haggis: Yes.

Seymour: In 1995, a Scientologist named Lisa McPherson died in Clearwater, Florida. She had been denied medical treatment for weeks. She was dehydrated and comatose until she finally died from a pulmonary embolism. The medical examiner found her death was a negligent homicide. Scientology settled a civil case with her family. It’s a dark stain on Scientology’s history. Marty Rathbun was right in the middle of it. He admitted to destroying evidence to protect Scientology.

Haggis: He went in and by his own admission destroyed evidence, covered up a case, and this is a criminal case he’s destroying evidence, and he admitted this, he’s admitted this…

Seymour: The death of a young woman.

 
Haggis: Yes.

Seymour: Denied medical treatment.

Haggis: Yes. And starved to death.

Seymour: So they had the whole outline of your show about the Guardian’s Office.

Haggis: Yes, yes. Well, the Lisa McPherson case and, it was the center of it, and how the Office of Special Affairs covered that up and covered up her death and destroyed evidence and all that, and then, yes, they had it all.

Seymour: But why did you need to tell anyone, let alone Marty Rathbun.

Haggis: Marty was part of it and I wanted it to be authentic. I didn’t want it to be sensationalistic, I wanted it to be the truth.

Seymour: Right, so you wanted him to help, with…

Haggis: Yes, consulting the project.

Seymour: …getting the story right.

 
Haggis: Absolutely. I was thinking of taking it to HBO because I’d really enjoyed my relationship with HBO, and that’s what I was going to do. So, so I told Marty and I got a very odd response from Marty. He wrote back and he said, you know you got it all wrong, you’re just being an anti-Scientologist at this point, and I went, well that’s weird. You know you told me this story.

Remini: Scientology called him a psychopath when he first left. They were right about that. So, so the psychopath is OK now, back in?

Seymour: Marty Rathbun’s re-entry into the Scientology fold, Haggis believes, means he would certainly have informed the leader, David Miscavige, about his plans to serialize the true sordid story of Scientology’s past, its founder, and first lady.

Haggis: About six months after I sent that, Marty started doing some very strange videos online. And so he’d obviously turned over all of my communication. Everything he turned over to the church, so they knew exactly what I was doing. Here I was thinking I was being so smart.

 
Title card: NEXT

Priya Chaudhry: This did not happen the way Haleigh Breest says it happened. It happened the way Paul Haggis says it happened.

Seymour: Paul, did you rape Haleigh Breest?

 
——————–

Source Code

“We could bring people in off the streets and have them walk down the hall and stop in Office 1 where a little sign says, ‘Glasses removed here.’ We wouldn’t have any couches or anything cluttering the place up like that, and we could just walk them around the hall and at each station there would be another auditor and he would just ask standard questions. The people coming in would walk all the way around and then out on the street again. Of course, they would stop at the desk before they went out and write out a check for the equivalent amount of medical treatment, which would come to $8,687,962.05! There is some slight possibility that we may be at that stage. I don’t want to over evaluate anything, however.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 1, 1951

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Frankly, I don’t think ‘discussions’ about history or any other topic ever produce much of any value. Debate is vastly overrated as a way to come to realistic conclusions about anything. Discussion is fun and occasionally someone says something that makes you cognite about something. But it rarely resolves anything. Online discussions also have a value in knitting together a community. In our case, we can’t all descend on the corner bar and have beers together. Now I know of a variety of trained and reliable ‘with-LRH’ people. And hopefully more will follow. Because God knows, there are few enough of us out here as it is.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1997: Former Scientologist Robert Vaughn Young this week described attacks by Scientology on an animal sanctuary he and his wife Stacy run in Seattle, Washington. “We soon identified the attack as coming from Scientology when a private investigator, David Lee, began to call around Seattle, using the same allegations that appeared in the anonymous flyer. He also told people he was investigating us for ‘animal abuse,’. He said he was working for LA Private Investigator Eugene Ingram, widely known to work for Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon. After no complaints to the city in two years, they were pouring into city officials on a daily basis. Calls were made to various Seattle City offices, including Animal Control, from people who asked to ‘remain anonymous.’ According to officials we spoke with, the callers said the house was filthy and our cats were diseased with ‘open sores.’ Besides calling various agencies, they also called city council members to complain that the agencies were not acting fast enough against us, urging political pressure.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“The only place D.M. is taking his ass if the seat gets too hot is to Tahiti or the Russian Riviera. He’s a gangster, not a fanatic.”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Demurrer filed by Masterson, arraignment delayed to October 19.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 5 in White Plains, NY, but asking for a 3-week postponement. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for a writ of mandate filed with Cal 2nd Appellate District, Sept 10.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Oct 5 (Serving Miscavige by publication), Oct 6 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Update required in federal lawsuit on Oct 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

 
——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] SCIENTOLOGIST ARRESTED IN L.A. COURT: Narconon fraud defendants in wild scene
[TWO years ago] Dispatches from our far-flung correspondents agree: Scientology still sucks
[THREE years ago] Scientology celebrates its disaster response in Florida, but struggles in Puerto Rico and Mexico
[FOUR years ago] Atack: Scientology advocates serenity, so why are so many Scientologists angry jerks?
[FIVE years ago] Cathriona White’s Scientology ‘twin’ on grueling courses was an actor named Travis Case
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s drug rehab network hit with lawsuit number 22 by attorney Ryan Hamilton
[SEVEN years ago] RAY JEFFREY 1, SCIENTOLOGY 0: Disqualify Motion Denied in Harassment Lawsuit
[EIGHT years ago] Secrets of The Master: Elements of Scientology That Didn’t Make It into the Film
[NINE years ago] Scientology Internal E-Mails: Even More Depressing Than You Might Assume

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on October 1, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

 ‘Celebrity,’ the seventh episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer [...]]]>

 
‘Celebrity,’ the seventh episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer it had made for the series. On August 31, we found that the first episode in the series had been leaked, and we embedded it along with a transcript we prepared. We also did the same for the second episode, ‘Witness X,’ on Sept 4, the third episode, ‘Taken,’ on Sept 11, the fourth episode, ‘The Star,’ on Sept 14, the fifth episode, ‘Always Attack,’ on Sep 17, and the sixth episode, ‘Dirty Tricks’ on Sept 21.

We’ve done the same for the seventh episode, in which 7NEWS reporter Bryan Seymour digs into the celebrities who are the public face of Scientology, explaining their dedication to it and what it is they hope to get out of it. And that includes the wonderful footage of Nancy Cartwright explaining that through Scientology she’s trying to become a god.

Here’s the video, and then the transcript. (For those confused by the length of these short “episodes,” please keep in mind that this was a nightly news investigation and these segments were created to run during a news broadcast, not as longer shows on their own.)

 

[UPDATE: After a request from attorneys representing Seven News, we have removed the embed links to the leaked ‘Scientology Black Ops’ episodes. See our reasons why in this story.]

Episode title: CELEBRITY

Bryan Seymour: This is Chinese Grauman’s Theater in Hollywood, one of the oldest establishments of the entertainment industry. All the people come to see the stars on the Walk of Fame here, and the footprints and the handprints. But it’s also an epicenter for Scientology. Scientology and Hollywood have always been intertwined. They used it for decades as a way of promoting themselves. But now, it could be the reason for their undoing. It was done by design, not chance. L. Ron Hubbard realized early on that celebrities could be walking billboards…

L. Ron Hubbard: You know?

 
Seymour:…advertising his newly invented Scientology to millions for free. In 1955 he drew up a list of celebrities to target, including Pablo Picasso, Walt Disney, Ed Sullivan, Orson Welles, and Ernest Hemingway. To this day, celebrities play a major role within the church, some of the biggest names in Hollywood are Scientologists.

Deborah Rennard: The celebrities, especially the very big celebrities, are treated completely different than anyone else in the church. You know, they have their own special areas that they are, they receive services, there are only certain people who are allowed to communicate to them. I mean, they do not associate with other people, and you know, what they are told and what they are shown and all of that is, it’s like a bubble. You know, they’re over here. Paul and I, we were in there for many years, and we were celebrities, so you know, I get it.

Leah Remini: Scientology went from being this innocuous, you know, little, I think, fad, people saw it as like a celebrity innocuous self-help group that wasn’t really harming people, to people really seeing this is a $3 billion dangerous money-making cult.

Seymour: Scientology’s first Celebrity Centre was set up by an Australian woman, Yvonne Gilham, who recruited John Travolta. I heard John Travolta recently say, well, I don’t believe any of this stuff. I’ve never seen it. It works for me, I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for Scientology, so I’m not going to address, I’m just not going to address those concerns. Is that good enough?

Mike Rinder: Obviously not. That’s ridiculous.

 
Remini: And the thing is that John knows the truth. I mean I’ve sat with John. John knows the truth. John said I don’t give a shit. It’s helped me. You live in a little bubble. You have been brainwashed thoroughly that without Scientology you will die, your career will die. You attribute everything that happens to you good, to Scientology, anything bad that happens to you is your fault. It’s bigger than celebrity.

Tony Ortega: Are they turning a blind eye to it? I’m not sure if that’s the right term. People like Tom Cruise believe that this is a prison planet, and that Scientology is literally this planet’s only salvation.

Seymour: A prison planet.

Ortega: A prison planet, right.

Seymour: On a prison planet. And David Miscavige is the warden?

Ortega: No, no, no. He’s trying to help us, you know, break out of this prison. The wardens of the Earth prison planet are the Marcabian invader forces that came to Earth tens of thousands of years ago and have bases on Venus and Mars. They’re the ones that are keeping us down.

 
SNL ‘Neurotology’ video: Religion and science intertwined, aliens live inside of our minds. A billion-year contract…

Seymour: A sign of Scientology’s declining grip on Hollywood is the growing number of comedy spoofs.

SNL ‘Neurotology’ video: We’re in this forever, never to leave it until our last breath. We are here, our path is clear, we are finally free with Neurotology.

Seymour: And here we are.

Tommy Davis: And here we are, exactly.

Seymour: OK. I was a welcome guest in 2010, when Scientology tried to win me over, granting me the unique privilege of interviewing some of their celebrities, including Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, who gave Scientology $10 million in 2007. Today she has handed over more than $17.5 million in donations.

Nancy Cartwright: Yeah, I believe in God. I believe that there is a power that I am striving for. I think the best way to describe that would be to name that ‘God,’ you know. And ideally I would have to say that I am striving to be that god.

 
Ortega: Tom Cruise worships David Miscavige like a god. That’s what people need to keep in mind. He’s not in Scientology because he’s being blackmailed or he can’t leave. Tom Cruise is in Scientology because he believes that L. Ron Hubbard was the greatest human being that ever lived and that David Miscavige is the greatest person living on the planet today. He really believes this stuff.

Remini: He’s very, very protected, as most celebrities are protected, but Tom particularly. Like, Kirstie Alley’s not protected like Tom Cruise is protected. Not even John Travolta is protected like Tom Cruise is protected. When you meet people, and I’ve met many people who’ve worked with Tom, they go he’s the nicest guy, I go, bullshit. Tom is an awful human being to Scientologists. If Tom was in the real world, with real assistants, not Scientology assistants, real hair and makeup people — like, somebody would have punched him the fuck out. I don’t care who he thinks, he would not be able to do what Tom Cruise does in the Scientology world in the real world. And that’s why he lives in this very crazy world that is unlike any world you, me, it doesn’t matter, Jennifer Lopez. I mean, this is a kind of crazy power that would be like into, like…

Mike Rinder: A king.

Remini: A king, yes, yes.

 
Emmy presenter: And the Emmy goes to Leah Remini, Scientology And The Aftermath!

Remini: Mom, she’s here tonight. Thank you. Thank you for believing in me. I wouldn’t be doing my life’s most important work, and you are officially forgiven for getting us into a cult.

Seymour: When Leah got her Emmy for best factual series, Elisabeth Moss walked out of the room, presumably because it was a slight against Scientology.

Paul Haggis: Yes.

Seymour: What should Elisabeth Moss do at the next press conference?

Haggis: Well the first thing she should do is open her eyes and look. I mean, you don’t stand up and walk out of an awards ceremony, if that’s what she did, unless you have a very strong feeling about something.

Ortega: I wrote this open letter to Tom Cruise to explain to him that this is going to stick to you eventually. You know, if you keep becoming, if you’re still the symbol of this organization, you will be the symbol for this behavior. The man is a Scientologist. He is trained not to believe a word that you or I say.

Seymour: So he’s simply not going to believe any of this is true.

Ortega: He won’t.

 
Seymour: I mean, if he doesn’t know this operation was carried out, when he hears this, or he’s told about this, what do you think he’ll think about this. What do you think he’ll do?

Ortega: He’ll ask Dave what to believe. He won’t believe anything you say.

Seymour: David Miscavige.

Ortega: Yes, he’ll ask David Miscavige what to believe.

Seymour: Paul Haggis said to me that both Cruise and Travolta will die in Scientology.

Ortega: I think he’s probably right about that. That would be huge if Tom Cruise or John Travolta left and spoke up and acknowledged that they had seen some abuses. That would be absolutely huge and it would help the government, you know, do something. But I just don’t see it at this point. I think that both Travolta and Cruise have shown as much dedication as ever.

Seymour: So, Tom Cruise and John Travolta, the big two, what should they do? What morally should they do?

Haggis: They should admit the truth. They should at least admit the truth. Start there.

Seymour: Next, a stunning revelation.

 
Haggis: OK, no one knows this. He went in and, by his own admission, destroyed evidence, covered up…

Seymour: On the death of a young woman.

Haggis: A murder.

 
——————–

Source Code

“The zygote is very easily injured. Every abdominal pressure affects it. However, an auditor should run the ovum-sperm series three or four days before conception. Although this hasn’t been checked objectively, cases respond much better if you get that series. The time up to before the first missed menstrual period has been checked objectively, because somebody else has this material too, but it is not easy to check conception objectively. Conception is a specific moment and you are not quite sure when it arrives. However, until the time this data is checked objectively, the reality of it is strong.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 27, 1950

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Even the type of wins as an Indie are different, much wider in scope, and MUCH MORE UNIVERSAL AND LESS CULTISH! What a tasty level this NOTs! Endless dishes and menus, some fantastic, some hard to digest (oh yes!), some a piece of cake, but all of them life shaking, life changing. And mood and tone altering, oh BIG time. I started slow and half blind, then got better, and better. And then I was doing difficult, elusive things correctly and more and more RIGHT!”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“If you leave or get kicked out they have a big ray gun device called the Hubbard Engram Re-Stimulator that can locate you anywhere on the planet and zap you with a beam that re-implants all the charge you blew.”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Demurrer filed by Masterson, arraignment delayed to October 19.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 5 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for a writ of mandate filed with Cal 2nd Appellate District, Sept 10.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 29 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Update required in federal lawsuit on Oct 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

 
——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] The rise and fall of a Scientology mogul just took another mysterious twist
[TWO years ago] What a train wreck: The ignominious fate of Scientology’s original flagship, the ‘Apollo’
[THREE years ago] Bernie Feshbach, 1923-2017: A man who fought against Scientology in his own way
[FOUR years ago] ‘Horrifying’ autism ‘cure’ exposed by BBC turns out to be Scientology: Now, the inventor speaks
[FIVE years ago] Our Pacific Northwest adventure begins this afternoon with a stop in Portland
[SIX years ago] Ryan Hamilton files lawsuit number 21 against Scientology’s drug rehab network
[SEVEN years ago] Federal Judge Orders Evidence Preservation Based on Narconon Georgia’s “Misconduct”
[NINETEEN years ago] Sympathy for the Devil (The Tory Christman story)

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on September 27, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

 ‘Dirty Tricks,’ the sixth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a [...]]]>

 
‘Dirty Tricks,’ the sixth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer it had made for the series. On August 31, we found that the first episode in the series had been leaked, and we embedded it along with a transcript we prepared. We also did the same for the second episode, ‘Witness X,’ on Sept 4, the third episode, ‘Taken,’ on Sept 11, the fourth episode, ‘The Star,’ on Sept 14, and the fifth episode, ‘Always Attack,’ on Thursday.

We’ve done the same for the sixth episode, in which 7NEWS reporter Bryan Seymour looks at the creepy stalking that Scientology hires private investigators to practice on former members and on journalists. That includes the visit that was made by a PI, caught on tape, when she attempted to “question” Paul Haggis’s daughter Lauren Haggis after she filmed an episode with Leah Remini.

It’s straight out of L. Ron Hubbard’s playbook, and it’s great footage.

Here’s the video, and then the transcript. (For those confused by the length of these short “episodes,” please keep in mind that this was a nightly news investigation and these segments were created to run during a news broadcast, not as longer shows on their own.)

 

[UPDATE: After a request from attorneys representing Seven News, we have removed the embed links to the leaked ‘Scientology Black Ops’ episodes. See our reasons why in this story.]

Episode title: DIRTY TRICKS

Bryan Seymour: You know who I am?

Scientology videographer: Yeah, you’re Bryan Seymour.

Seymour: So the Church of Scientology has sent young Chris here to document my reporting… If you take on Scientology, they will attack you. I learned that very quickly after my first reports exposing abuse in Scientology in 2007.

 
News videographer: G’day, mate. Can I ask why you’re filming people going into the conference?

Scientology videographer: Aren’t you?

News videographer: Yes, I am. Yeah, I’m a journalist from Australia.

Seymour: Will the church go after me for an AVO because I’m trying to interview you about the intentions behind this. Can I ask, who sent you here to photograph us here today? And for what reason? You don’t want to tell me your name?

Scientology videographer: I’m not here to be interviewed.

Seymour: No well, I’m not here to be filmed by you either, but that’s OK…. They have followed me, filmed me, bugged me, tried to get me sacked, tried and failed to injunct my stories, published an attack website on me, attack videos, and, appallingly, tried to convince me to commit suicide. One of their favorite ploys, as it turns out. One of them leaned in when he knew we weren’t filming, leaned in and whispered into my ear, we know you grew up in an orphanage, we know they gave you drugs, what’s wrong with you, why don’t you kill yourself? This is what he whispered into my ear. Now, they prepped someone, had the discussion, this is how we can try and unsettle Seymour. And I’ve got to say and I hate to admit it, it did get to me a little bit. Just the awfulness of thinking that you can plan to try and throw someone off by throwing up childhood trauma at them and suggesting they commit suicide. That’s what Scientology is.

 
Tony Ortega: They never call me up. And they never complain to me about my stories, they never try to influence me directly — they go after my family members. And Mike Rinder and Leah Remini have experienced this as well, is they go after your loved ones, they go after your support system. They do their best to intimidate and frighten people.

Seymour: One famous victim was the pioneering author Paulette Cooper, who wrote ‘The Scandal of Scientology’ in 1971 after infiltrating the cult. A Scientologist moved into her building, and would often buy her wine and try to talk her into jumping off the roof. They also broke into her apartment and typed a bomb threat on her typewriter. Then they lifted her prints from a wine glass and put it on the threat and mailed it to the Church of Scientology. Their goal was to have Cooper imprisoned or committed to a psychiatric hospital. Ortega detailed the unbelievable plan, code-named Operation Dynamite, in his book ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely,’ Scientology’s nickname for Cooper.

Ortega: The dirty tricks, the elaborate operations against people did not end in the 1970s. They were exposed in the 1970s, but they continue to do them today. We’re still finding remarkable operations that Scientology is working against people it considers enemies.

Tiziano Lugli: Stop following me, stop it, stop it! You’re never going to get shit from me.

Seymour: This is typical of Scientology’s tactics. It was 2010, Los Angeles. Sick of being stalked by an army of private investigators, former Scientologist Tiziano Lugli decided to turn his camera on them.

Seymour: More recently, Paul Haggis’s daughter Lauren was paid a visit by a private investigator.

Private investigator Olivia Robinson: I’m following up on an interview that she did.

Male resident: Interview with whom?

Robinson: It was the one on TV.

Seymour: Lauren joined her father Paul to appear on Leah Remini’s show ‘Scientology and the Aftermath.’ That sparked this visit. And Scientology hired a lawyer to write this letter, outlining how they wanted to interview Lauren about the claims she made on Leah’s show.

Robinson: I’d like to just talk with Lauren about the interview only because there were some concerns that came about as a result of the interview and so it would be very helpful to talk to her.

Male resident: OK, I’m sorry, so you’re representing who?

Robinson: I’m a private investigator, a licensed private investigator, somewhere here I have my card. Maybe I dropped it. Oh God. I think maybe I dropped it on my way up here.

Seymour: Scientology can afford these armies of proxies to do their bidding. It’s estimated they have more than $3 billion in cash reserves, much of it donated by wealthy members, including celebrities. More on that later. The reason why they have so much is because they don’t pay tax. We’re constantly told by Scientology that an attack on them is an attack on religious freedom because they are, first and foremost, a religion. Was that reinforced to you, as a member, in those early decades?

 
Paul Haggis: Well, in the 70s, we all sort of winked at it, you know? We knew it was a tax dodge.

Seymour: You winked at it?

Haggis: I didn’t care it was a tax dodge. Who cared, you know?

Seymour: Is that all it was?

Haggis: Well, I don’t know, I didn’t do, I wasn’t around in the 50s when he created it, but I have to assume so. They didn’t have to pay any tax. He was a genius in that way. I mean, why, his thought was, why pay tax if you didn’t have to when all you have to do is call it a church?

Tony Hitchman: It tends to be something of a racket, to make money for those people who are running it.

Seymour: With inexhaustible funds at their disposal, Scientology is collecting real estate at a voracious rate in the United States and here in Australia, holding grand openings for centers which are deserted once the confetti and hired extras leave. The stakes are high, and so are the costs for everyone in this battle, in every way. How much has it cost you, as a result of your determination to, as you say, clear your name?

Haggis: It’s cost me everything I have so far. And I’m selling this place. And so then when that’s done I’ll borrow after that.

Seymour: How much are you willing to give to this enterprise to prove your innocence?

Haggis: Everything. Every penny I have in the world, what do you mean? I have no choice. My name is everything to me. Well, that’s not everything, my children mean everything to me. My family, that’s everything. My name is secondary to that. But, it’s their name too. So, no, I’d, everything, every penny I have.

Leah Remini: That’s exactly what they want. They want Paul Haggis to have to sell his apartment. They want Paul Haggis bankrupt. They don’t want people to want to hire him as a writer, as a director. This is a man with an Oscar. This is a man who was Fair Gamed by Scientology for speaking out against a $3 billion cult. It is simply what they want to have happen, and they don’t care.

 
Seymour: Did the calls dry up? The calls from Hollywood?

Haggis: I shouldn’t laugh, but you know, yeah, immediately. I lost the feature I was doing immediately. And I haven’t really worked since. Of course, no. I expected that. There are those, I mean, there are a lot of people who know me and support me. Many, many, many. Agents have stood with me, my long time agents, and my manager, and all the people in my life I’ve known for years, men and women, have all stood with me. And I’m so grateful, deeply grateful for that. But, you know, Hollywood’s run by corporations, corporations are run by lawyers.

Seymour: I’ve just finished filming with Paul Haggis. And, the thing is, of course, though that, I’m really not prosecuting the case against him, the civil case and his guilt or innocence, as I said at the start. I’m talking to him about what we’ve uncovered, which is in a sense a much bigger story in terms of, you know, it involving institutions going after people that are, frankly, astonishing and very sinister level. And, you know, if they were engaging in that type of behavior, what else have they done that we don’t know about. Where is the money coming from, that’s a legitimate question. And it’s something I’ll be asking Haleigh Breest’s lawyers, and I’ll be interested to hear their response, just how they’re funding this. Is it some sort of litigation funding? Is it contingency funding, no win no fee? If so how much are they willing to spend in case they don’t win? I mean, these are legitimate questions. Where is the money coming from for this civil suit? And the answer to that question might prove to be one of the most important in this case. In a statement, Ms. Breest’s lawyers told us, “There is absolutely no evidence that Haleigh Breest, or any of Haggis’s other victims, have anything to do with the Church of Scientology. The Church of Scientology is not funding this lawsuit or paying our law firm. And we have never done any work for the Church of Scientology.” You can read their full statement on our website.

 
Title card: COMING UP

Ortega: People like Tom Cruise believe that this is a prison planet.

Haggis: He should admit the truth. Should at least admit the truth.

Remini: John knows the truth. John said, “I don’t give a shit.”

 
Additional note: The attorney who hired private investigator Olivia Robinson to pretend that they had legitimate questions to ask Lauren Haggis was Julia Azrael, who has made several appearances now as part of Scientology Fair Game operations.

She represented Marc Headley’s Scientologist disconnected mother in order to write a nastygram to Leah Remini’s A&E show. And she was also involved in the Heber Jentzsch operation, feigning outrage over Tammy Clark’s attempt to see her uncle at Gold Base, as Mike Rinder reported.

As a Scientology hired gun, she’s an up-and-comer.

 
——————–

Source Code

“Today we’re processing the present. We’re processing energy flow — live energy flow — in present time. We’re processing ‘right now.’ And ‘right now’ gets affected by ‘then,’ just as you learned in the first book and just as you learned in subsequent publications, and all you’ve been practicing to date. ‘Then’ affects ‘now.’ But all you will have to process, really, to get rid of ‘then,’ is ‘now.’ So you can process ‘now.’” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 21, 1952

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Note that after the McPherson Affair there was a radical change in the delivery of Scientology known as the Golden Age of Tech. Coincidence? Sure if you believe in such things. Personally I don’t think many Scientologists can confront that much evil so they create a synthetic terminal like ‘Miscavige,’ ‘DM’ or ‘COB’ and fixate on him as the cause of all evil and that anyone who suggests otherwise is a ‘conspiracy theorist’ or an ‘OSA plant’ or whatever. Worse they support such idiocies as signing a petition calling on the *in*justice department and the FBI to ‘investigate’ Scientology. As far as I’m concerned Lisa McPherson and the ‘Trust’ that followed was a planned covert operation allowing former plants like Robert Vaughn Young and others to ‘defect’ and further discredit the subject and make absurd claims that it was the Introspection RD that caused her demise. Interesting fact is that the Introspection Rundown if properly done would eliminate the need for Psychiatry and their monopoly over the ‘insane.’ An existential threat to their existence for sure.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“I wish that the OSA or their private dickheads would show up were I live because I live in the toughest building on the toughest street in my city. The cops are afraid to come in here. Also, I am much beloved by the denizens.”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Demurrer filed by Masterson, arraignment delayed to October 19.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 5 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 29 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Update required in federal lawsuit on Oct 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

 
——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] The new ‘Freewinds’: Founder L. Ron Hubbard says Scientology is ‘supermagic’!
[TWO years ago] Is David Miscavige making changes to Scientology to fend off media glare?
[THREE years ago] Federal judge says he has the Scientologists for a justice panel, but Garcias say, ‘not so fast’
[FOUR years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Scientology’s secret ranch where L. Ron Hubbard departed this Earth
[FIVE years ago] United Kingdom sees Scientology documentary ‘Going Clear’ tonight on Sky Atlantic
[SIX years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Turning begging for cash into an art form
[SEVEN years ago] FEAR: Jon Atack on Scientology’s Essential Ingredient
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 5: Joe Childs and Tom Tobin

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on September 21, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

 ‘Always Attack,’ the fifth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a [...]]]>

 
‘Always Attack,’ the fifth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer it had made for the series. On August 31, we found that the first episode in the series had been leaked, and we embedded it along with a transcript we prepared. We also did the same for the second episode, ‘Witness X,’ on Sept 4, the third episode, ‘Taken,’ on Sept 11, and the fourth episode, ‘The Star,’ on Monday.

We’ve done the same for the fifth episode, in which 7NEWS reporter Bryan Seymour examines Scientology’s mandate that it subject its perceived enemies to vicious attacks, in the case of Paul Haggis posting videos of his own sister denouncing him even more than a year after she had died of cancer. Seymour also dives into Scientology’s long history of elaborate attacks on the government and former members, including a recent escapee, Valerie Haney, who had to hide in the trunk of a car to escape one of the church’s secretive compounds.

Here’s the video, and then the transcript. (For those confused by the length of these short “episodes,” please keep in mind that this was a nightly news investigation and these segments were created to run during a news broadcast, not as longer shows on their own.)

 

[UPDATE: After a request from attorneys representing Seven News, we have removed the embed links to the leaked ‘Scientology Black Ops’ episodes. See our reasons why in this story.]

 
Episode title: ALWAYS ATTACK

Kathy Slevin: And that I had spent most of my life protecting a vicious bully.

Bryan Seymour: This video was uploaded by Scientology’s propaganda publication Freedom magazine in January 2018, shortly after the rape allegation against Paul Haggis became public.

 
Scientology attack video: He’s also an accused rapist.

Seymour: It features Haggis’s sister Kathy, who had died just over a year earlier.

Slevin: And I turned around to walk out, and I’m walking for the door, and I hear him come running up behind me. I am thrown against the door and kicked from behind. And I couldn’t believe it.

Seymour: What was your reaction when you saw your own sister sitting down doing interviews about you like that.

Paul Haggis: She’d always been a troubled person. I actually thought by getting her into Scientology way back then it might help her.

Seymour: You got her into it?

Haggis: I did. I did. And she met her husband in the Sea Org. They were in the Sea Org together. She died of cancer two years ago. They were still auditing her on her deathbead. Because of course Scientology says they can cure cancer. Even though they say they don’t really say that, they say they can. On her deathbed they were charging her money to cure the cancer that was killing her. These are scumbags. My sister and I had our problems. We had a lot of problems. But she was my sister.

 
Seymour: Scientology has revealed itself as a group that is a law unto itself, plotting, in the words of its founder, to destroy enemies, assigning private investigators to follow, film, and research anyone.

Tony Ortega: They’re still surveilling people, they’re still hacking people. In fact a private investigator went to federal prison because he was caught trying to hack me and Mike Rinder. So they’re doing the same kind of dirty tricks that they did 40 years ago.

Seymour: None of this should be surprising. After all Scientology is guilty of committing the worst case of domestic espionage in US history.

Ortega: In 1967 L. Ron Hubbard and his wife Mary Sue created something called the Guardian’s Office, which became a very sophisticated intelligence operation. It matched the intelligence abilities of some small countries.

Seymour: It was called Operation Snow White. In 1973 after years of planning, the Guardian’s Office, the forerunner to the Office of Special Affairs, waged all-out war against the Internal Revenue Service and the FBI to learn what information they had on Scientology by covertly bugging meeting rooms, installing undercover agents in the US government, and stealing documents. The conspirators were caught. Eleven Scientologists were convicted, among them L. Ron Hubbard’s wife Mary Sue, who served one year of a five-year prison sentence. Never defend, always attack. That is gospel in Scientology as written down by its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. How to attack is laid out in a policy called Fair Game, in which Hubbard describes how to lie to, trick, deceive, and destroy anyone who poses a threat to his creation.

L. Ron Hubbard: That’s the background of all of this, that’s what started all the trouble.

 
Seymour: Hubbard ruled with unquestioning authority. Now David Miscavige rules with a similar legacy.

Ted Koppel: What do you call the folks who are up at the higher level of your church, the ones in the uniforms. What do you…

David Miscavige: Staff members. Sea Org members of the church.

Koppel: Sea Org.

Miscavige: Yes.

Ortega: The only person who has total control of Scientology is the captain of the Sea Org, and that is Captain David Miscavige.

Seymour: So everyone in the Office of Special Affairs is in the Sea Organization.

Ortega: Everybody in OSA is Sea Org and they all work directly for David Miscavige.

Seymour: Everyone?

Ortega: Everyone.

Seymour: So could anyone at the Office of Special Affairs carry out work or an operation without David Miscavige knowing about it?

Ortega: What they would do is the people who run OSA then hire outside contractors. They hire the private investigators, the former cops, and it’s always kept several layers away from David Miscavige. But none of it is done without the approval of David Miscavige. ‘

Miscavige: That may not seem fair…

Seymour: Miscavige has been named in three lawsuits alleging the cover-up of child sex abuse, human trafficking, slave labor, and a raft of abuses over decades. One case has been dropped by the female complainant, another has been forced into religious arbitration.

 
Ortega: One of the most interesting involves this young woman Valerie Haney. And the reason why Valerie’s lawsuit is so interesting is that for years Valerie was David Miscavige’s personal steward. Meaning, like, she served him his meals in his quarters. She knew everything about his private life, and she was very close to both David and his wife Shelly for many years. She then was demoted from that job when Shelly vanished, and she was then working in the sort of video-making department and she knew she could never leave the base because she knew too much about David Miscavige’s private life. She ultimatey had to escape by hiding in the trunk of a car.

Seymour: Valerie joins a long list of victims, many of whom I have personally met. They include David Miscavige’s own father, Ron Miscavige.

Ron Miscavige: It’s brutal. It’s inhuman. It’s nuts.

Seymour: There are many hundreds more, possibly thousands, some too scared to show their face or be interviewed. Others have passed away. Some have simply vanished without a trace. What should I be wary of in terms of what they could and are capable of doing to me?

Ortega: If they did decide to come after you like they have others, the usual thing is they will focus on your job, they will try to influence people that could have some power over who you work for. They will go after your loved ones. They will start a smear campaign about your wife in some way. These are the things that they do to people, and again, they’re following a playbook that L. Ron Hubbard created 50 years ago. And they don’t know anything else.

Hubbard: We’re not interested in ultimate or absolutes, we’re interested in what produces results. What is good for a duck hunter is not good for the duck.

 
Title card: NEXT

Tiziano Lugli: Fucking piece of shit. Huh? You want to fuck with me now, huh? You try to hide, but you fucking can’t!

 
——————–

Source Code

“Unfortunately, Black Dianetics is inherent in Dianetics. In 1945, this was all the Dianetics there was: how to drive people crazy, how to foul up political systems, how to restimulate individuals just by talking to them, without planting engrams. And in addition to this, how to interrupt life force in an individual. We haven’t gone into that very much. It is a wonderfully smooth way of committing murder.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 17, 1951

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Book one? Nobody cares about Book One. That faded away seven decades ago. You need to be less politically correct. What you need is celebrities who actually speak their mind. Not Tom Cruise. OTs, almost by definition, do not organize Book One events. One can’t be an actual OT and involve oneself with that, because it is a waste of time. Napoleon got things done. And he had R6. You are not an OT, and no one should treat you as such. You can’t get things done and refuse to support people who do. You are as causative as a mentally disabled person in a wheelchair. Scientology OTs, putting the tech aside, are probably some of the least effective beings on this planet. I haven’t seen good results. And that’s because of lower grades.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“I’ve always wanted a goat. A small place in the country with a goat, a couple of pigs, some chickens, a duck or two and of course the usual cats and dogs…oh, and a semi-tamed crow or raven.”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 5 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29, bond raised to $350,000 on Aug 27. Prosecutors appealed denial of their motion to have bond revoked, response from defense due Sept 11, response by prosecutors on Sept 14.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 29 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 26 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

 
——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Why isn’t Scientology’s ship the Freewinds hauling emergency supplies to the Bahamas?
[TWO years ago] Visit to London Ideal Org shows that the Scientology bubble is still firmly in place
[THREE years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige has empty buildings all over the world — here’s a rundown
[FOUR years ago] With Jason Lee out, what does it mean for Scientology’s tightest celebrity clique?
[FIVE years ago] Surreal encounter at Scientology’s secretive Int Base shows up in Danish documentary[SIX years ago] New leaked videos from the super beings at Scientology!
[SEVEN years ago] Jenna Miscavige Hill Talks to Us As Her Book Comes Out in Paperback
[NINE years ago] Scientology Oz-fest: Commenters of the Week!

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on September 17, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

 ‘The Star,’ the fourth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a [...]]]>

 
‘The Star,’ the fourth episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer it had made for the series. On August 31, we found that the first episode in the series had been leaked, and we embedded it along with a transcript we prepared. We also did the same for the second episode, ‘Witness X,’ on Sept 4 and the third episode, ‘Taken,’ on Friday.

We’ve done the same for the fourth episode, in which 7NEWS reporter Bryan Seymour reports on another dirty op by Scientology’s spy wing, this one targeting Tom Cruise’s legendary publicist Pat Kingsley. You saw a similar story here at the Underground Bunker thanks to Leah Remini on July 27. And Seymour lays out the same narrative here, that in order to convince Kingsley to walk away quietly so Cruise could talk up Scientology during his press junkets, Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis assembled a “dirt file” on Kingsley.

Here’s the video, and then the transcript. (For those confused by the length of these short “episodes,” please keep in mind that this was a nightly news investigation and these segments were created to run during a news broadcast, not as longer shows on their own.)

 

[UPDATE: After a request from attorneys representing Seven News, we have removed the embed links to the leaked ‘Scientology Black Ops’ episodes. See our reasons why in this story.]

 
Episode title: THE STAR

Bryan Seymour: It’s breathtaking. The Screen Actors Guild is the union for the stars, the crews, and the creatives who conjure digital dreams. To Scientology, it’s a source of intensely personal information. They ordered one of their own — we’ll call them Witness X, a SAG employee — to access the file of Paul Haggis to search for embarrassing information, a betrayal unthinkable to those whom the union protects. It all sounds like an absurd plot from a pulp fiction novel, like the ones L. Ron Hubbard eked out a living writing before he founded his own religion. But Witness X knew this was no elaborate joke, nor a one-off misguided foray into espionage. They knew that because years earlier, they’d been approached to do exactly the same thing. Pat Kingsley and Tom Cruise. She was the gatekeeper for the biggest names in entertainment, representing the A-list stars generations have grown up with. Her client list was crowned in the 1990s with the biggest box office draw in the world.

 
Seymour: The relationship between Kingsley and Cruise was so close, they reportedly spoke multiple times every day. She was feared and famed for saying no to reporters’ requests for access. Kingsley took Cruise to the top as the world’s highest grossing movie star, loved by millions around the world.

Leah Remini: My name is Leah Remini. I’m an actress/producer, and I was a Scientologist for 35 years. When you’re talking about Tom Cruise, you’re talking about the messiah. You know these two — it’s David Miscavige and Tom Cruise. Now, David thinks he’s here and Tom thinks he’s here, but that’s a little secret love battle they have going on, but they are both at the head of Scientology.

Seymour: Witness X considered speaking to me on camera to tell their own story. Ultimately the fear of what Scientology might do to them won out. But we can reveal, confirmed with multiple sources, that Witness X was approached by the same Scientology executive, Tommy Davis, in 2004, seeking information for another file he was compiling, this time on Pat Kingsley, Hollywood’s most powerful publicist, and the person closest to the most famous Scientologist in the world. Tom Cruise had wanted to use his movie junket for ‘The Last Samurai’ in 2003 to promote Scientology. Kingsley, as his publicist, forbade it.

 
Remini: Pat wasn’t saying, you shouldn’t talk about your religion, she was basically saying, we’re here to promote a movie and you should do your job. Right? Because this is not positive press. What you’re doing is not going to help you or the film.

Seymour: Cruise was soon awarded Scientology’s top honor, the Freedom Medal of Valor in 2004. The megastar was determined to step up his role as the public face of Scientology, by promoting Scientology on the press junket for the Steven Spielberg-directed blockbuster ‘War of the Worlds’ in 2006 [actually 2005]. Pat would not let that happen. So the plan to remove his loyal publicist was given the green light.

Mike Rinder: I’m Mike Rinder. I was a Scientologist for 45 years, and the international spokesperson for the Church of Scientology for more than 20 years.

Seymour: Scientology’s black ops unit, the Office of Special Affairs, planned and executed the entire operation.

David Miscavige: Please welcome Mr. Mike Rinder.

Rinder: I was the head of the Office of Special Affairs for 20 years. [In 2006:] That’s why 2006 will forever be remembered as phase one, global demolition.

 
Seymour: Mike Rinder was born in Adelaide in Australia. I did the first interview with him in 2010 after he left Scientology, followed and harassed by their goons, who filmed us as we filmed.

Rinder: This pattern of what happened is exactly the pattern that is dictated by the writings of L. Ron Hubbard. And the writings of L. Ron Hubbard are God’s law in Scientology. You must follow them.

Seymour: Despite Witness X refusing to go into Kingsley’s SAG file, Tommy Davis went ahead and compiled his ‘dirt file.’ We can reveal that file contained information on finances, sensitive health details, family issues, and intimate photographs. Out of respect for Kingsley’s privacy, we are not going to detail this information. If you could ask him one question, what would it be?

Paul Haggis: Why? Why, Tommy? How could you support this heinous organization knowing what you know — because he knows. He knows all the secrets. And he was smart enough to resign. But he’s still their hatchet man. He’s still out there being their hatchet man. How do you live with yourself, knowing that?

Seymour: In a sworn deposition, Witness X confirms Tommy Davis showed off the file and boasted, ‘We’ve got her.’

 
Witness X: I was more shocked than anything else. And it felt slimy and dirty, and it felt gross. And it felt just fully and totally inappropriate because it was very personal information I’m sure this person would not want others to have.

Seymour: Witness X could not elaborate on where she saw that file and who else was in the room due to a non-disclosure agreement she signed with her employer at the time: Tom Cruise.

Remini: He’s abusive, he’s diabolical. And he’s the example of Scientology. They chose the right guy.

Seymour: Shortly before Leah Remini’s book ‘Troublemaker’ came out in 2012 [actually 2015], she was contacted by Witness X.

Remini: She of course called and said, I want to tell you a few things. She told me what it was like working for Tom — and it’s horrible. Tom is an awful human being to Scientologists. She told me about this file, she told me about this meeting where they met, they asked her to get dirt on Pat. That wasn’t working and then they had a file, and that what Tom Davis said, if you say one disparaging word about Tom, this information will get out. What that information was I don’t know.

Seymour: You were in the Office of Special Affairs around this time.

Rinder: Yes, I was, yeah.

Seymour: What was the conversation in the Office of Special Affairs about Pat Kingsley?

Rinder: That Pat Kingsley was a problem. That was very much made clear to me by David Miscavige, who told me to go see Pat Kingsley and persuade her to allow Tom to disseminate Scientology.

Seymour: Step one in the operation was to send Mike Rinder to see Pat Kingsley and ask her politely to end her relationship with Tom Cruise.

 
Rinder: I dutifully went and had a meeting with Pat at her PMK offices. She is a lovely woman and a very, very smart woman, and a very shrewd woman. And, you know, my pitch to her was the sort of softball, of Pat look, you know, Tom really believes this and I don’t want you to think that there is something wrong with Scientology and blah, blah, blah, blah. And she basically just, you know, heard me out, out of politeness I guess, and probably some feeling that she owed it to Tom to listen to me, and didn’t get persuaded about anything. Because the bottom line is she was absolutely right. That was her job, that was her relationship with the studios…

Remini: To protect her client, she was trying to protect Tom from himself.

Seymour: The next step was a dramatic escalation.

Marty Rathbun: [In deposition] You know you ask me this question, like I told you, when you’re back then and there and you’re subjected to this and participating in it, that’s a meaningless question.

Seymour: Scientology enforcer Marty Rathbun was known in the organization for his brutal and unforgiving manner. Rathbun was their bad lieutenant, charged with carrying out the orders of leader David Miscavige.

Rinder: Marty told me that he did. I didn’t know that at the time, but Marty told me subsequently that he had gone to see Pat. And like, had brought more of the, ‘this is what you are going to do’ approach.

Seymour: He’s a pretty intimidating guy, isn’t he? He can be pretty forceful.

Rinder: Well, he’s intense. He assumes that he is in the position of authority and you are just going to listen, shut up, and do what I tell you. And he’s very good at that.

Seymour: After Marty’s visit, and faced with the ‘dirt file’ on her being made public, Scientology’s black ops unit finally had their scalp. Pat Kingsley agreed to sever ties with Tom Cruise. Cruise immediately hired his sister and fellow Scientologist, Leanne Devette.

 
Oprah Winfrey: Have you ever felt this way before?

Seymour: Together, the siblings embarked on the worst year of publicity in his career.

Matt Lauer: Do you want more people to understand Scientology? Is that, would that be a goal of yours?

Tom Cruise: You know what, I, absolutely…

Seymour: After 12 months, and contemplating years of reputational and brand damage, Cruise sacked his sister Leanne. Pat Kingsley has never spoken about why she abruptly ended her association with Tom Cruise save for a single quote in a 2013 Hollywood Reporter article saying, “Tom came in and said, ‘I want you to know I’ve decided to make a change.'” It was a sudden and surprising end for a titan in the shark-eat-shark world of movie PR. Rumors have abounded for years about why she so suddenly ended her association with Tom Cruise. Now, the industry knows. There is no one Scientology thinks it cannot attack and silence. In a statement Tommy Davis told us, ‘To allege or infer I would do anything to attack Pat Kingsley, now or at any point in the past, would be an outright lie.’ The Church of Scientology and Tom Cruise deny any involvement in an alleged plot to compile a dirt file on Pat Kingsley. Tom Cruise did not respond to our questions. You can read all statements in full on our website.

 
Seymour: Next, Scientology’s black ops unit reaches their lowest level.

Haggis: They were still auditing her on her death bed. These are scumbags.

 
——————–

Source Code

“All right now, let’s look at an engram. An engram isn’t very serious if somebody walks up and steps on your toes and says, ‘You skunk.’ That’s not very serious because there’s not very much chaos there into which to put a stable datum. But if this individual walked up to you from behind, slugged you over the head, kicked you in the ribs, wound you up in the hospital, but somewhere in the midst of all of this he said, ‘You’re a skunk,’ you’d probably start to smell like one.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 14, 1955

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“At some point (as soon as possible) we need a central organization as Ron envisioned it. I love all his ethics, tech and admin. The only time I saw it not work was when it was misapplied or abused. I completely see Scientology as the solution to this planet and it won’t happen without a large central organization. Period. We just have to get better at the 3D.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“A question that has crossed my mind in the past is, if someone cynically creates a religion/spiritual movement for their own personal gain, but its followers truly believe in it, does one negate the other?”

 
——————–

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 5 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29, bond raised to $350,000 on Aug 27. Prosecutors appealed denial of their motion to have bond revoked, response from defense due Sept 11, response by prosecutors on Sept 14.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 29 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

 
——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Mark ‘Wise Beard Man’ Bunker: His Scientology-protesting past and political future
[TWO years ago] Jesse Prince, witness to Scientology’s ugliest behavior, spills it all in new book
[THREE years ago] Is Ohio’s newest legislator a Scientologist? ‘I had him on the cans,’ says our man in Cincy
[FOUR years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: Scientology’s secret base where David Miscavige keeps wife out of sight
[FIVE years ago] Another rare Scientology video leaks, and this time we see its long vanished president
[SIX years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Smile while you write that check, pardner!
[SEVEN years ago] THE TEXAS POST-GAME REPORT: Scientology, Monique Rathbun, and Judge Dib Waldrip
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Watchers: A Message from Tony Ortega
[NINE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 8: Mike Rinder

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on September 14, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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

 ‘Taken,’ the third episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer [...]]]>

 
‘Taken,’ the third episode of ‘Scientology Black Ops,’ a special 7NEWS Australia investigation that was cancelled by the network in July, has been leaked to the Internet.

Ten episodes were scheduled to be published to the 7NEWS website on July 14 when the network changed its mind, cancelled the program, and also pulled down a trailer it had made for the series. On August 31, we found that the first episode in the series had been leaked, and we embedded it along with a transcript we prepared. We also did the same for the second episode, ‘Witness X,’ last Friday.

We’ve done the same for the third episode, in which 7NEWS reporter Bryan Seymour reports on the remarkable story of Tristan Silverman. A second generation Scientologist, she worked as an intern for director Paul Haggis when she was only 15. She later left Scientology, and she was surprised when Kathy O’Gorman, a longtime operative in Scientology’s secret police, the Office of Special Affairs, called her up and began asking about Haggis.

Silverman then describes to Seymour how, after the call with O’Gorman, she was walking in broad daylight on a Manhattan street when some men in a van pulled up and tried to get her to come with them. She managed to get away, and now she’s convinced that OSA wanted her to cooperate in a smear campaign about Haggis by making a video denouncing him.

Here’s the video, and then the transcript. (For those confused by the length of these short “episodes,” please keep in mind that this was a nightly news investigation and these segments were created to run during a news broadcast, not as longer shows on their own.)

 

[UPDATE: After a request from attorneys representing Seven News, we have removed the embed links to the leaked ‘Scientology Black Ops’ episodes. See our reasons why in this story.]

 
Episode title: TAKEN

Tristan Silverman: As a second generation, I can’t speak for everyone, but when you leave there’s not like a definitive point. For me I didn’t feel like I’d fully left until I fully realized what I was leaving.

Bryan Seymour: And how did you escape?

Silverman: Jumped out a window and I hitchhiked to Chicago.

Seymour: She is one of the lucky ones. Raised from birth as a Scientologist, she made a break for it and thought she was free of the cult for good.

 
Silverman: My name is Tristan Silverman. I am a poet, and I was in Scientology for about 26 years.

Seymour: What was it like being a gay woman in Scientology, because Scientology tells me and the world that they’re very accepting, they support equal rights, and the LGBTIQA community is welcome and embraced and loved by Scientology.

Silverman: Well, it’s so much fun, being gay in Scientology. So that’s…

Seymour: Really?

Silverman: No.

L. Ron Hubbard: That’s terrible, that’s bad manners, you know? I mean, that business about sex and all that sort of thing.

Seymour: L. Ron Hubbard branded homosexuality an aberration which could be cured with Scientology exercises. His own son Quentin’s homosexuality caused him great shame and likely contributed to Quentin’s suicide.

Delphian video: What if the school’s goal was not about grades but about gaining a real understanding of any subject matter a student confronts.

Seymour: The Delphian School in Oregon promoted itself as a new kind of progressive institute without disclosing its true purpose to recruit and train children as Scientologists.

Delphian video: Developed by American philosopher and educator L. Ron Hubbard…

Seymour: Some of the exercises were extremely inappropriate, including perverted interrogations by adult teachers in front of the entire class.

 
Lauren Haggis: So I had my teacher [redacted] sit across from me and just say the most ridiculous, sexual, outlandish like things trying to get me to squirm…

Seymour: To emote, to react.

Lauren Haggis: To emote, yes. We were trained that this is appropriate, that this is normal. But as an adult who has been in the real world for so long, you’re training kids to be abused and to not do anything about it, just to sit there.

Silverman: There was a rule at the time that you could only be alone and sexually aroused with a member of the opposite sex for 35 seconds. I don’t know when that…

Seymour: How do they enforce that rule? That’s absurd.

Silverman: It is, well, as you know with Scientology a lot of it is self-inflicted.

Seymour: Yeah.

Silverman: So you enforce on yourself.

Seymour: Her fellow students included the children of celebrity Scientologists, including Paul Haggis’s three daughters. And Lauren Haigney, the niece of Tom Cruise.

 
Silverman: Lauren Haigney asked me to come into her room at break and I did and she was sobbing. She was like my uncle and my aunt are getting divorced and I just found out she’s an SP. And I was like, what? Your aunt?

Seymour: And who was this aunt?

Silverman: Nicole Kidman. And she’s like, Aunt Nic is this SP and I had no idea and I’m like really — she was really distraught about it.

Seymour: SP stands for Suppressive Person, someone who is a threat to Scientology and must be shunned, or, if they engage or criticize Scientology, destroyed using any means possible.

Silverman: And then I did an internship with Paul Haggis when I was about 15. He was a writer first. He was always a writer. And I remember because he let me stay at his house, because I was, he was like, I’ll give you an internship, and I was like, I don’t know anyone in LA, can I stay at your house? And he was like, sure.

Seymour: Five years ago, Tristan was living in her grandfather’s New York apartment, once the home of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst, near Central Park. One day, she received an unexpected phone call. So Kathy O’Gorman calls you up…

Silverman: Yeah.

 
Seymour: And, what did she say?

Silverman: She said I’m a longtime Sea Org member or staff member, and I was like, what did I do wrong? ‘We are just at random pulling names out of a database of all the public and just calling them up to sort of see how they’re doing, and what their experience is like so that we can get a broader, more global, perspective.’

Seymour: So just randomly your name came up.

Silveran: Yeah.

Seymour: That’s what she said.

Silveran: Yeah.

Seymour: Kathy O’Gorman is a senior Scientologist who’s worked closely with first the founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and the current leader David Miscavige. In 1976, when Hubbard’s son Quentin committed suicide in Las Vegas it was O’Gorman who was on duty at Scientology’s Clearwater headquarters in Florida and refused to answer questions from a detective who was calling looking for information. In the early 80s David Miscavige appointed O’Gorman to a senior role in the Office of Special Affairs, Scientology’s Black Ops unit.

Silverman: And that’s when she started to sort of ask me about Paul Haggis.

Seymour: What did she ask?

Silverman: She began to ask me questions about how I came to know his family, what he was like, if he was ever inappropriate? She wanted to know if he was faithful to his wife, if he ever did anything inappropriate with me or other women around me, if he had ever said anything bad about Scientology, if I would be willing to come in and have a conversation with somebody, maybe her, I don’t know, in person. At the time I didn’t know that they were making all these videos. I wasn’t in tuned to it all.

 
Kathy Slevin: He used that charm in order to con people. Paul’s a born con artist.

Seymour: Tristan says O’Gorman also asked her if Paul had ever molested her and his own daughters when they were children. I mean, what did you make of that?

Silverman: I just thought it was absurd.

Seymour: A few days later she left her apartment to visit a sick relative. And was it morning or night when you left the apartment?

Silverman: Morning. So it was around this time, actually.

Seymour: You get up to the end of the block here…

Silverman: Yeah.

Seymour: And what do you see coming across the road here?

Silverman: A van pulling over. And I remember thinking, because you’re not supposed to, because those are the buses…

Seymour: Yeah.

Silverman: And you don’t want to mess with New York City bus drivers.

Seymour: Yeah.

Silverman: So that’s when the guy got out and then he walked across the street towards me and I was around here. And that’s when I knew he was a Scientologist. So there’s two of them, and the one guy said, Hi, Tristan.

Seymour: Hi, Tristan.

Silverman: Yeah. He said his name, I don’t remember what it was.

 
Seymour: Had you ever met him before?

Silverman: No.

Seymour: He knew who you were.

Silverman: Yeah. And they were like we were hoping… And they were already putting their arms around me.

Seymour: How did he grab your arm? Show me.

Silverman: He was just, how you doing, what’s going on? I was like, I’m a little busy, guys, what’s going on. And it was sort of like they were all like around me and there was people everywhere, you know? And it’s embarrassing. We started to move, and literally we pulled up right around here and I jumped in and I ran into the subway.

Seymour: Ran down the stairs and escaped into the subway.

Silverman: Yeah. If they had brought me in and I had realized, in the moment, that their goal was not to get me to get money out of my grandfather but rather to throw Paul under the bus, I think I would have lost my shit a little bit. I mean, I would have, I think I would have gotten really upset.

Seymour: Yeah, I can see that.

Tony Ortega: I am surprised to hear that. I mean, nobody should go through that, but I can also say that it’s very consistent with the way the Office of Special Affairs and the Church of Scientology have operated since the 1960s. They consider themselves a superior species, they call themselves Homo Novi.

Seymour: What do they call themselves?

Ortega: Homo Novi, the new man. They are a new species and they have no respect for those of us that are not Scientologists and our petty laws. OSA is the secret police of Scientology, they are the East German STASI. This is what they do.

Seymour: With hindsight now, why do you think they were trying to take you off the street and take you away?

Silverman: Personally? Without question, I only have one, is, absolutely to get me to record a video.

Seymour: And to record a video about what?

Silverman: Paul Haggis.

Seymour: She feared that she was going to be swallowed whole by the organization again and brought back in, and forced to publicly condemn you. What’s your reaction to that?

 
Paul Haggis: That she’s a very brave woman to speak out. So many people don’t feel they can speak. They don’t have a voice and they’re terrified. And Scientology can ruin you.

Seymour: Scientology was clearly specifically looking to target Paul Haggis and his relationships with women. One of the most effective tools at their disposal is their own files on current and former members containing written transcripts of their most personal confessions along with audio and video recordings, including those made by their biggest celebrities. What’s the longest you’ve spent in a room on the E-Meter holding the cans.

Haggis: Twelve hours.

Seymour: Twelve hours?

Haggis: Yeah.

Seymour: I’m guessing it never occurred to you that they would be willing and able to use that stuff against you.

Haggis: No, they say they won’t. They say it’s priest-penitent. Except, then they say well, unless you’re a suppressive person. But yes, there are many, many folders. I mean, they write down everything you say. Forget the video and audio recordings, they write down every word you say. I saw my folders at one point, they took up a wall, you know, they were probaby 20 high and 10 across.

Seymour: Wow.

Haggis: Oh yeah.

Seymour: Scientology denies it directed members to kidnap Tristan Silverman, or any involvement in any alleged plot against Paul Haggis. All statements can be read in full at our website.

 
Card title: COMING UP

Tom Cruise: So what do you say, we going to clean this place up?

Leah Remini: When you meet people, and I’ve met many people who worked with Tom, they go he’s the nicest guy, I go, bullshit. Tom is an awful human being to Scientologists. And he’s the example of Scientology. They chose the right guy.

 
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Catherine Bell comes out

Just in case you were wondering if a lesbian actor would shill for a front group operating on behalf of a homophobic ‘church.’

 
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Source Code

“Several things need clarifying. And one is the length of the time track. And a lot of you have had considerable protest on the subject of the length of the time track. Because trillions of trillions of trillions of trillions of trillions of years, you know, T-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-T, you know and, ‘Oh, my God, ho, ho, ho! Oh, ho, ho dear! Getting so long. Da, dsa, dya, dya, dya, oh! Uh!’ You hear that around every once in a while. You probably felt like that yourself, you know. Well, I just have good news for you in that particular department. What I would choose to call ‘modern times’ extends from trillions – thirteen till now. That’s modern times. The stuff that’s more likely to influence the preclear in present time. Well, this is very germane.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 11, 1963

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“List of subversive 1.1 Scientologists, ex-Scientologists (OTs) leaders supporting the Marxist Biden-Harris-Bernie campaign. The influential Scientologist most pandering the drum for Bernie Sanders’ commie agenda is a Type 3 PTS. The influential ex-Scientologist pandering the drum for Biden’s destruction of the USA agenda has also gone through gruesome events, including cancer, and better not mentioned here so as not worsen the case.”

 
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Random Howdy

“You would think a Scientology connection would be enough to kill any political campaign if it was really played up in the media.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for October 5 in White Plains, NY. Jeffrey’s is set for October 24.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29, bond raised to $350,000 on Aug 27. Prosecutors appealed denial of their motion to have bond revoked, response from defense due Sept 11, response by prosecutors on Sept 14.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 29 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, awaiting verdict.

 
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] After 3 years of Hurricane Leah: ‘Scientology today is light years ahead of what it was’
[TWO years ago] A visit from a private investigator has us wondering if Scientology is behind it
[THREE years ago] HURRICANE LEAH: ‘The defenses are crumbling. Scientology in Los Angeles is dying.’
[FOUR years ago] How Scientology repackages itself and takes in the NYPD and NY schools
[FIVE years ago] US Army catches Scientology ‘detox’ study rigging results, government document shows
[SIX years ago] DOX: Scientology drug rehab center found deficient after a 2010 California death
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Slackers: How to Audit Away Your Passive-Aggressive, Dominating Deviancy!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology President’s Son Died of Prescribed Methadone While Sick With Pneumonia

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 11, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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…

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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