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

Day One just ended in the temporary injunction hearing of Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige.

We live-blogged the first half of the day’s session, which included opening statements by attorneys on both sides. But then Judge Dib Waldrip called for a ban on recording devices during Monique’s []

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LIVE FROM TEXAS: The Monique Rathbun vs. Scientology Temporary Injunction Hearing

Today and tomorrow, at the Comal County Courthouse Annex on Seguin Avenue in downtown New Braunfels, Texas, a temporary injunction hearing is scheduled to take place in the lawsuit filed by Monique Rathbun against the Church of Scientology and its leader David Miscavige, who is responsible for a campaign of harassment against her, Monique alleges.

Monique []

SCIENTOLOGY MOVES TO DISQUALIFY MONIQUE RATHBUN’S ATTORNEYS

Marty Rathbun and David Miscavige, back in the day

When Mark “Marty” Rathbun filed an affidavit last week saying that his former employer, David Miscavige, firmly rules every aspect of the Church of Scientology and oversaw its dirty tricks campaigns in Texas, we expected that the church might respond by calling Rathbun a liar.

Instead, []

Monique Rathbun vs. Scientology: Temporary Injunction Hearing Set for Sept 12

The temporary restraining order that prevents Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige from surveilling Monique Rathbun has been extended to September 12, when a two-day hearing has been scheduled which could see dramatic testimony about electronic snooping, sexual taunting, and other alleged harassment by the church.

Monique is married to Mark “Marty” Rathbun, who was once []

MONIQUE RATHBUN FILES SUIT AGAINST SCIENTOLOGY OVER HARASSMENT

Monique Rathbun has filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the Church of Scientology’s controlling entities and its leader David Miscavige for years of harassment she alleges have caused her serious harm since her husband, Mark “Marty” Rathbun, went public in 2009 with information about his life as a top executive in the church.

On Friday, the []

The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 2: Monique Yingling

 [NOTE: Don’t miss yesterday afternoon’s breaking news about the Danny Masterson case.]

We’re now at the point in our countdown when we reach the non-Scientologists who Scientology leader David Miscavige relies on the most to keep him out of []

Leah Remini podcast: Attorney Ray Jeffrey on Marty Rathbun’s betrayal

 Leah Remini and Mike Rinder have one of our favorite people on their podcast this week, Texas attorney Ray Jeffrey, who has made plenty of Scientology lawyers break out in a cold []

The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 18: Mark ‘Marty’ Rathbun

 In 2011 we spent the month of August counting down a list of the “Top 25 People Crippling Scientology.” Nine years later, Scientology is still hurting, but church leader David Miscavige learned long ago that paid membership was only one resource that kept him in business. He also relies on a small army of enablers, []

Paul Haggis: Rathbun does what I feared, and outs ex-Scientologist we vowed to keep secret

[Paul Haggis and Marty Rathbun]

We heard from a lot of readers who were impressed by the candor and class exhibited by Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis in a piece he wrote for us that we published on Saturday. []

Ford Greene responds to Marty Rathbun, and brings up a previous Scientology secret deal

[Ford Greene]

We heard this week from Ford Greene, the California lawyer who was involved in important litigation against the Church of Scientology and who also recently appeared on a special 2-hour episode of Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. He’s also the former two-time mayor of San Anselmo, []