NXIVM Update
Dani's Cross...
Yesterday afternoon lawyer for the defense, Marc Agnifilo, began cross-examination of former slave Daniela, aka Dani. She held up well in spite of the sleazy attempts to paint her as a thieving ingrate by Agnifilo. He used quotes written by her under duress to try and prove that she loves/loved Raniere and acknowledge that he was trying to help her. He also discussed her non-theft of money from the NXIVM office. At one time, Dani filched a couple thousand dollars from the till thinking she would leave the cult, but replaced it out of guilt before anyone even noticed. The only way anyone found out was because she felt bad and told Keith about it sometime later. Raniere lied to his followers and said the stealing incident was why she was being punished. The truth is he was madly jealous that she had kissed Ben Myers, another cult member. We can't imagine that the jury doesn't see through Agnifilo's attempts to smear Dani, especially after three full days of her heartbreaking testimony.
Dani's Exile...
Other details of Dani's life were revealed both before cross started and during cross examination. Details of her departure are here where we find that Kristin Keeffe accompanied Dani and her father, Hector, as they drove from New York to Texas. Raniere decided to exile Dani in Mexico. He kept all her documentation and she had no money when they left her inside Mexico at the border. Her father gave her about $75 and she bought a bus ticket to an undisclosed location in Mexico. Earlier in her captivity, we get a glimpse of the kind of strength this young lady has. Driven near insane while in her solitary confinement and mind-bending tortures by Raniere, she made her own newspaper. Very clever, very creative. When Lauren Salzman found out about it, she told Dani it was another "ethical breach" and she would be punished for it.
Dani's Newspaper, introduced as evidence
Vanguard's Tactics...
An audio was played in court by the prosecution that captures Raniere's conversation with Dani's mother. In it, we see "Vanguard's" techniques of influence. This was a conversation where Raniere planted seeds, never coming out and saying what he wanted, but manipulating her mother throughout. By the end, Dani's mom was totally behind Keith in his regimen of punishment for her daughter.
Dani's Freedom...
After being exiled from the cult in Mexico, Dani worked several jobs. It was very difficult for her with ID or papers - she was basically an illegal in her own country thanks to Keith, Lauren and Nancy. After finding work, her next challenge was to acquire a library card so she could continue the book reports demanded by Raniere. She couldn't even get that without ID, but a kindly person co-signed for her, impressed with her thirst for knowledge. Eventually, she drifted out of contact with the cult and the book reports were a distant memory. She tutored for the child of a Human Rights Commission lawyer who found out she had no identity papers. The lawyer's group paid for replacement documents and Dani was off to the races, pursuing her own life at around 26 years old. Dianne Lipson, correspondent for the Frank Report, has detailed the story of Dani's exile and new life here. She has a managerial job now, travels the world, and even has a boyfriend. It's good.
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