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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More about the goons Scientology sent to intimidate Marty Rathbun and Louis Theroux

We had to scramble yesterday evening to bring you some information about the latest Scientology ambush video that former church official Mark “Marty” Rathbun posted to the Internet.

Now, some hours later, a more complete — and more depressing — picture of what happened Saturday in Los Angeles is emerging, thanks to the eagle-eyed researchers at []

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Another Scientology ambush, this time of Marty Rathbun with Louis Theroux present

Marty Rathbun has been ambushed by odd Scientologists asking strange questions yet again, and this time Marty not only managed to catch them in his short video of the encounter, but filmmaker Louis Theroux can also be seen in it.

In October, Rathbun posted video of three top Scientology officials ambushing him at the gate of []

Marty Rathbun on being ambushed at LAX by raving Scientologists: ‘It was insane’

Jenny DeVocht

On Sunday evening, Mark “Marty” Rathbun, formerly the second-highest ranking official in the Church of Scientology, posted a bizarre 2-minute video to his blog, a video he had taken earlier in the day while he was waiting at Los Angeles International Airport to catch a flight back to his home in Texas.

Marty []

Rathbun v. Scientology: Another appeals court hearing, this time with everything on the line

Monique Rathbun

UPDATED with an account of today’s hearing, below

Monique Rathbun and the Church of Scientology are back in court today for a hearing before the Texas Third Court of Appeals.

In July, the same court overturned a lower court order that would have allowed Monique to depose Scientology leader David Miscavige in her harassment []

RATHBUN SUIT: Scientology’s last swipe in its anti-SLAPP appeal before hearing next week

Thomas Leatherbury

Next Wednesday, Monique Rathbun and the Church of Scientology will tangle in another hearing before the Texas Third Court of Appeals.

The last time the court heard arguments in this lawsuit, it then reversed a trial court ruling that held Monique could depose Scientology leader David Miscavige in a question of jurisdiction. This []

TEXAS JUDGE DENIES SCIENTOLOGY’S ‘ANTI-SLAPP’ MOTION IN RATHBUN SUIT

Marty and Monique Rathbun

In a 25-page ruling, Comal County Judge Dib Waldrip today rejected Scientology’s ‘anti-SLAPP’ motion which had attempted to derail the harassment lawsuit of Bulverde, Texas resident Monique Rathbun.

Monique sued the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, in August, alleging that she’d been the subject of several years of []

Scientology’s anti-SLAPP motion in harassment suit being heard today: Rathbun seeks delay

Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige, resumes today at the Comal County courthouse in New Braunfels, Texas, and we have someone on the scene.

Local reporter Nick Rogers, who has done fine work for the Texas Citizen, will be sending us updates as today’s events unfold.

At issue this time is Scientology’s []

THE MARTY RATHBUN AFFIDAVIT: Scientology Leader David Miscavige Lied To Texas Court

Marty and Monique Rathbun

Last night, stunning new documents were filed in Monique Rathbun’s lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige.

New defendants have been added to the lawsuit, which is heading for a temporary injunction hearing a week from today. But the real fireworks come in responses to a declaration []

Joel Sappell Finds Former Scientology Enforcer Marty Rathbun To Be a Reluctant Whistleblower

Much of our coverage of Scientology in the past three years has focused on former church executive Marty Rathbun, and for good reason.

Rathbun is the most visible member of an “independence movement” that is splitting Scientology apart. He has participated in or masterminded several of the biggest legal and media offensives against church leader David []

Miscavige Gets His Wish: Marty Rathbun Pulling Up Stakes?

UPDATE: See what we’ve learned about the Rathbuns’ new home so far, below.

We have to admit, this really took us by surprise.

Earlier tonight, Marty Rathbun posted what appears to be an announcement that he and his wife Monique are pulling up stakes and leaving Ingleside on the Bay, Texas.

For those of you who have followed []