ABOVE THE LAW!
Explosive court papers dish Scientology warred on lawmen to protect Masterson rape secrets
SCIENTOLOGY operatives unleashed a no-holds-barred campaign of intimidation in a twisted bid to derail That ’70s Show stoner Danny Masterson’s rape trial — only to see the former church poster boy shipped to the slammer, critics charge.
Now sources say the revelation has sent shivers through the shadowy church, which has been accused of bugging phones, using intimidation and even blackmail to protect the secrets of its inner workings and those of its celebrity members, including John Travolta, Tom Cruise, Jenna Elfman and Elisabeth Moss. According to informants, the controversial religion even enlisted agents to bully and harass both witnesses and lawmen — including a respected prosecutor
— to prevent Masterson’s conviction for raping Scientologists and bury the church’s involvement in an alleged cover-up.
Former Scientologist Leah Remini, who now crusades against the church, has long contended she has been the target of harassment by the church, saying she has been targeted and tailed by operatives. She also claims the church enlisted dozens of its members “to record videotaped messages (in Scientology production studios) to make disparaging and false claims against her.” “A-list members are running for cover, fearing they will be implicated in the coverups and see their careers damaged by the association,” a source spilled. “And the church is terrified this scandal will scare away NEW celebrity recruits forever!”
Masterson, 48, was sentenced to 30 years to life in September for sexually assaulting two fellow former members more than two decades ago. The jailbird is appealing his conviction. But
A-LIST MEMBERS ARE RUNNING FOR COVER AS SCANDAL EXPLODES
Bijou Phillips, his Scientologist wife of 12 years, has since filed for divorce — and sources snitch the sicko was booted from the church! Masterson’s victims — and additional accusers — are suing the Hollywood has-been, Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige. Their recently exposed 372-page complaint alleges a host of horrors — including allegations that the organization’s thugs sought to silence them!
The document dishes Scientology cronies also tailed a prosecutor, broke into his home and even tried to run a lawman off the road, which sources call an effort to safeguard the church’s internal policies of blackmail and intimidation to keep members under their thumb! In the suit, rape accuser Chrissie Carnell Bixler — who did not secure a criminal conviction against Masterson — says Scientology heavies vandalized her vehicle and tampered with her home security system. Her husband — Cedric Bixler-Zavala — also claims vengeful Scientologists poisoned his two dogs!
“The church clearly thinks it’s above the law!” an insider huffs to The National ENQUIRER. “If they feel threatened in any way, they will stop at nothing to defend and preserve their beliefs!” There’s plenty at stake, sources dish, because the church is desperate to protect its status as a tax-exempt religious institution. As The ENQUIRER previously reported, sources snitch Scientology faces potential ruin without the valuable financial perk! After Masterson’s conviction, two of the sex creep’s
former defense attorneys were sanctioned for wrongly sharing discovery materials from his case with a Scientology lawyer — including personal info about his accusers, who are involved in a civil suit against the church.
Former L.A. Chief of
Police Michel Moore has recently admitted his own investigators believed church agents were watching and harassing them — even though a subsequent investigation by the LAPD found no proof!
While the suit doesn’t specify the name of the prosecutor allegedly in the group’s crosshairs, Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller — the lead on the Masterson case — says his home was vandalized, he was “run off the road” and cellular service to his home was knocked out in the run-up to the actor’s initial mistrial in 2022.
The legal eagle never fingered Scientology as the culprit — but two law enforcement sources say he blamed the religion in closed-door conversations with the Los
Angeles County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, which handles threats made against prosecutors.
Mueller even warned another lawyer he was bringing on to the Masterson case about Scientology, later saying, “I wanted her to have a headsup that there may be some shenanigans ... some harassment, stalking, retaliation.”
The DA’s office refused to disclose any details about the case to The ENQUIRER because
“it would compromise the security of the targeted individual.”
However, Scientology spokesperson Karin Pouw insists “allegations that the church harassed or intimidated witnesses, prosecutors or law enforcement officers are categorically false,” adding there’s “zero evidence” to support such “scandalous” claims! However, church defector and former executive Claire Headley says the suspected skulduggery bears the hallmarks of Scientology’s shadowy Office of Special Affairs!
In a recent statement filed as part of a harassment lawsuit brought against the organization by Remini, Headley says the mysterious office “manages all legal and public affairs” for the church, including silencing critics and destroying their reputations! Former Scientologist Mike Rinder, who once led the Special Affairs division, calls it the religion’s CIA.
In a declaration in Remini’s lawsuit, Rinder claims the church employs “private investigators to surveil and intimidate targets,” goes after their family, friends and employers — and enlists “homeless and mentally ill people to harass” foes!
Pouw brands Rinder “an inveterate liar” and sneers Headley is Remini’s “partner in bigotry!”
But the insider says the church is “capable of anything” — and adds, “There have been too many complaints like this not to take it seriously!”