Jury selection begins today in the Danny Masterson trial, and we’re there for you

[Law & Crime’s Jesse Weber and a field correspondent]

Jury selection begins today in the trial of Danny Masterson. Wow, we can tell you that for some people, it’s been an incredible struggle and a harrowing journey to get to hear those words.

We know you’re seeing a number of “curtain raiser” articles from big media outlets, and they’re doing a good job laying out the basics and the background of this trial. But we hope you have had a chance to prepare in real depth with the series of articles we put together in the last week…

[Oct 5] Prosecution plans to call Lisa Marie Presley as witness at Danny Masterson rape trial
[Oct 7] Olmedo Rules: Details of the court’s decision on Scientology in Danny Masterson’s case
[Oct 9] How a major Scientology donor family is caught up in the Danny Masterson case
[Oct 10] The case against Danny Masterson: Details from the prosecution brief on the eve of trial

Yesterday, we dropped by the courthouse for a brief hearing conducted by Judge Charlaine Olmedo, but also so we could pick up this item…

This badge will assure us a seat in the media section throughout the trial, and we expect it to be packed with other reporters.

But not today.

Today, as jury selection begins, most of the courtroom will be needed for all of the potential jurors who will be squeezing into what is not a very big chamber. As a result, for the next few days as the potential jurors pack the room, only a single seat has been set aside for the media.

Today, that’s your proprietor.

Tomorrow too.

Isn’t that wild? Now, before you go congratulating us on somehow acing out the other ink-stained scribes, the truth is that so few reporters wanted to cover the jury selection process, we’re sharing the pool reporter duties with only one other journalist, who will be taking those duties on Thursday.

So apparently it’s less of a mark of distinction and more of a consolation prize.

But whatever! At least for the next couple of days the only reporter in the room will be there representing the Underground Bunker, and we’ll just hope something interesting breaks out.

Anyway, yesterday’s short hearing turned out to be really very interesting, so after it was done we ran back to our car (to make sure it was still there, for one) and then recorded a quick video for our supporters at Substack.

This morning, we’re making it available to everyone. We hope you find it useful.

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Rumors of John Travolta’s exit from Scientology were greatly exaggerated

After the deaths of John Travolta’s wife Kelly Preston and Lisa Marie Presley’s son Ben Keough two years ago, we pointed out that John and Lisa Marie had been very close friends in the past.

Lisa Marie left Scientology in 2014. And we suggested that if the two old friends sought solace in each other, she might be able to help John finally get away from Scientology (something he has contemplated in the past.)

But we cautioned that we didn’t see any evidence that Travolta was moving away from Scientology, even though the tabloids, as the tabloids do, repeatedly pronounced that Travolta had ditched Scientology after Kelly’s death with no evidence whatsoever.

Well, John himself settled that question yesterday when, just like he did after the Haiti earthquake a decade ago, he posed in front of Scientology “Volunteer Ministers” loading a plane with material to help out with Hurricane Ian devastation.

Take note, tabloids, John’s still in the fold.

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Thank you for reading today’s story here at Substack. For the full picture of what’s happening today in the world of Scientology, please join the conversation at tonyortega.org, where we’ve been reporting daily on David Miscavige’s cabal since 2012. There you’ll find additional stories, and our popular regular daily features:

Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history

Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea

Overheard in the Freezone: Indie Hubbardism, one thought at a time

Past is Prologue: From this week in history at alt.religion.scientology

Random Howdy: Your daily dose of the Captain

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