Reacting to reports about turmoil and conspiracy theories roiling Turning Point USA following the death of founder Charlie Kirk, author and Scientology expert Tony Ortega is reporting that Kirk had been "cultivated" by higher-ups in the highly controversial religious organization for years while also receiving millions in funding.On his Underground Bunker Substack, Ortega wrote it was an open secret that Kirk had been targeted for recruitment years ago with one influential Scientology donor writing that the late Kirk claimed a Scientology tract “saved his life.”According to Ortega, “We do know about a couple of Scientologists that are funding TP USA because they haven’t been quiet about it,” before pointing to an interview with Scientology mega-donor Tom Cummins admitting in a YouTube interview, “I’ve given them millions of dollars.”“In the video, Cummins explained that he had met Kirk about ten years ago, and had found him to be ‘a person who is willing to go out there who’s capable of doing something about it.’ So he began funding Kirk in monthly payments, which Cummins knew was very valuable for the young political firebrand to have,” the report notes before adding, “Cummins said he had been introduced to Kirk by fellow Scientology donor Craig Jensen.”Jensen presented more evidence of how the Scientology hierarchy viewed Kirk, who not long after was drawn into the Trump family inner circle.In an email to now “defected Scientology celebrity” Joy Villa, Jensen wrote that he hosted Kirk and gave him a tour at the organization's Clearwater, Florida headquarters and that the future MAGA enthusiast was open to the beliefs espoused by founder and science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard.One year after Trump was elected to his first term, Jensen wrote, “I was introduced to Charlie by a good friend from Palm Beach. I then put on an event for Charlie at my home in CW and gave him an OSA-escorted tour of the Flag building. He was blown away! I gave him a copy of the ‘Causes of Suppression’ booklet and he said later that it saved his life. So, yes, he knows full well I am a Scientologist and he is supportive.”He then added, “I am on the Turning Point USA Advisory Board.” Ortega added the caveat, “As much influence as Turning Point USA has had on the MAGA movement, however, it’s not as influential as the White House itself, and it’s important to keep in mind that Scientology has alarming connections to the second Trump administration.”[Editor’s note: Tony Ortega served as executive editor of Raw Story from 2013 to 2015] You can read more from the Underground Bunker here.