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And now we wait: Jury deliberations in the Danny Masterson trial

[Danny Masterson and Bijou Phillips outside court yesterday, photo by @meghanncuniff]

We will be arriving at the courthouse this morning at our usual time, even though we know there’s not going to be a lot for us to do.

Continue reading And now we wait: Jury deliberations in the Danny Masterson trial

Closing arguments today at the Danny Masterson trial: Come along for the ride

[Defense attorney Philip Cohen and Deputy DA Reinhold Mueller]

Well, it’s all come down to this: Five years after we first learned that Danny Masterson was under investigation by the LAPD, more than two years after he was charged by the DA’s office, and after four weeks of testimony from his alleged victims, today we’re going to see closing arguments from Deputy DA Reinhold Mueller and defense attorney Philip Cohen in the Danny Masterson trial.

Continue reading Closing arguments today at the Danny Masterson trial: Come along for the ride

PODCAST: Leah Remini joins us to talk Scientology, the LAPD, and Shelly Miscavige

 
Leah Remini set Twitter on fire this week when she spoke up about the Cory Palka news and about his years of shilling for Scientology while he was commander of the Hollywood Division.

Continue reading PODCAST: Leah Remini joins us to talk Scientology, the LAPD, and Shelly Miscavige

Leah Remini remembers when Mackenzie Phillips was rooting against Scientology

[Leah Remini and Mackenzie Phillips]

Leah Remini has really been on fire lately. Yesterday we told you about the Twitter thread she unleashed about the LAPD and Shelly Miscavige that went viral. Her tweetstorm kicked up such a fuss, the LAPD felt forced to respond.

Continue reading Leah Remini remembers when Mackenzie Phillips was rooting against Scientology

LAPD responds to Leah Remini tweets about Shelly Miscavige, gets stuff wrong

[Leah Remini, center, with Shelly Miscavige, right, circa 2004]

Last week, we told you about a story by Gene Maddaus at Variety that laid out some stunning allegations about a former LAPD Hollywood Division commander named Captain Cory Palka, who is accused of using his influence to kill a sexual assault investigation of Les Moonves, CEO of CBS.

Continue reading LAPD responds to Leah Remini tweets about Shelly Miscavige, gets stuff wrong

PODCAST: Looking back at the fourth week of testimony in the Danny Masterson trial

[Tricia Vessey and Cillian Murphy in ‘On the Edge’ (2001)]

The fourth week of testimony at the Danny Masterson trial in Los Angeles was another abbreviated one, as the court is dark today for Veterans Day. But what a week of big stories.

Continue reading PODCAST: Looking back at the fourth week of testimony in the Danny Masterson trial

Prosecution in Danny Masterson trial scheduled to rest after odd turns on Wednesday

[Philip Cohen and his client, Danny Masterson]

The prosecution in the Danny Masterson trial is supposed to rest its case today, we think.

Continue reading Prosecution in Danny Masterson trial scheduled to rest after odd turns on Wednesday

BIZARRE: Scientologist figure Tommy Davis accosts two Paul Haggis trial witnesses in Soho

[Deborah Rennard and Tommy Davis]

The Underground Bunker has learned that an unusual scene played out on a corner in the New York City neighborhood of Soho at about noon yesterday.

Continue reading BIZARRE: Scientologist figure Tommy Davis accosts two Paul Haggis trial witnesses in Soho

Danny Masterson sis-in-law Chynna Phillips after watching trial: Seeing the light?

[Chynna Phillips Baldwin]

On November 2, we put in our “morning break” report at the Danny Masterson trial that we were excited to see that Danny’s wife Bijou Phillips had arrived to court that morning with her half-sister, Chynna Phillips Baldwin, 54.

Continue reading Danny Masterson sis-in-law Chynna Phillips after watching trial: Seeing the light?

Death of a ‘whale’: Scientology loses a major donor and Mark Bunker critic

[Steve Anderson]

This is the last thing Scientology leader David Miscavige needs right now. What with so much going on, including Scientology getting a drubbing in trials on two coasts, Mike Rinder still on his media rounds for his excellent new book ‘A Billion Years,’ and the two mayoral candidates in Los Angeles trying to outdo each other trashing Scientology, the organization’s slow recovery from the ravages of the pandemic has been a nightmare.

Continue reading Death of a ‘whale’: Scientology loses a major donor and Mark Bunker critic