Rizza Islam defiant as his trial on Medi-Cal fraud begins today

It’s been more than seven years since we first broke the news at the Underground Bunker that several Scientologists were facing felony charges for an elaborate scheme to defraud California’s Medi-Cal health insurance.

Continue reading Rizza Islam defiant as his trial on Medi-Cal fraud begins today

Secrets of Scientology’s most secretive branch: CST and its strange vaults

[A look inside a CST vault — from Scientology’s own TV channel]

We’re always encouraged when an Underground Bunker reader takes a deep dive into Scientology’s arcane depths, such as the time we were treated to a thorough examination of founder L. Ron Hubbard’s war record by a military veteran. This time, another reader has come forward with some eye-opening research on Scientology’s most secretive branch, the Church of Spiritual Technology, which operates vaults for storing Hubbard’s writings and lectures in order to last for thousands of years, and also the compound where we believe Shelly Miscavige is kept out of sight. We think you’re going to enjoy this thorough look at CST’s underlying facts. Today: CST’s corporate structure, and its numerous subsidiaries.

Continue reading Secrets of Scientology’s most secretive branch: CST and its strange vaults

UNSEALED: Jane Doe 1 sues Scientology for sex assault at 16 by Sea Org groomer

[Defendants Gavin Potter and David Miscavige, and attorney Graham Berry]

On December 29, between the two trials of Danny Masterson, one of his victims, Jane Doe 1, filed a lawsuit against Scientology, its leader David Miscavige, and a Sea Org member named Gavin Potter.

Continue reading UNSEALED: Jane Doe 1 sues Scientology for sex assault at 16 by Sea Org groomer

Mike Rinder and Christie Collbran have some good news for us all

Last night Mike Rinder and Christie Collbran posted a message of hope that we wanted to make sure you saw if you haven’t already.

Continue reading Mike Rinder and Christie Collbran have some good news for us all

Read Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw’s latest freakout over the Tampa Bay Times

[Shaw helpfully included this photo of David Miscavige with his letters]

Tampa Bay Times reporter Tracey McManus had another terrific piece yesterday about Scientology’s stranglehold on the downtown of Clearwater, Florida, a city the church surreptitiously invaded in 1975 and has said it wants to turn into the first “Scientology city.”

Continue reading Read Scientology spokesman Ben Shaw’s latest freakout over the Tampa Bay Times

Wait, Scientology has Mary-Ellen of ‘The Waltons’ on the hook for how much now?

[And does John-Boy know?]

Recently, we’ve been learning how much Scientology’s wealthy donors have been forking out as church leader David Miscavige makes a big fundraising push for his remaining “Ideal Org” projects in the US.

Continue reading Wait, Scientology has Mary-Ellen of ‘The Waltons’ on the hook for how much now?

Scientology background helped with anti-mandate work, Seattle council candidate says

On Sunday, we told you how we learned that an independent Scientologist (someone who practices L. Ron Hubbard’s ideas outside the Church of Scientology) is running for city council in Seattle.

Continue reading Scientology background helped with anti-mandate work, Seattle council candidate says

Why doesn’t Scientology want you to see these OTs and their success stories?

[Illustration by Chad Essley]

Last month, we told you that Scientology attorney Gary Soter had convinced Substack to remove one of our stories that contained images from a Scientology publication featuring church leader David Miscavige and voice actress Nancy Cartwright, who was being celebrated for donating a new total of $21 million to the church.

Continue reading Why doesn’t Scientology want you to see these OTs and their success stories?

Indie Scientologist running for Seattle city council on lingering anti-mask outrage

We’re always interested when Scientologists run for public office, which isn’t very often. In 2020, we wrote about a former Sea Org member running for city council in the Oregon town of McMinnville (she lost). There was a married couple who each ran for office in Nevada (one of them, Brent Jones, did serve as a state legislator but failed in his bid to move up to lieutenant governor). And also in Nevada, we’ve had some questions about a perennial candidate there.

Continue reading Indie Scientologist running for Seattle city council on lingering anti-mask outrage