NXIVM Update
Catching up...
A paucity of near-real-time reporting from the courthouse, lack of media interest, and delays in journalists that are covering the trial receiving transcripts have put us behind a little in reporting. I've covered Monday and Tuesday this week, today's update will be yesterday's events and what's happened so far this morning.
Eyes Wide Shut...
Lauren Salzman continued her testimony through Wednesday morning. The prosecution played audio with Raniere discussing the branding of slaves. Salzman testified about a lot of details on the formation of DOS, those involved, and some of the things they did. Interestingly, Raniere mentioned the movie "Eyes Wide Shut" in his discussion on audio with the slaves. Where have we heard that before? I think the audio was from a video. The video wasn't shown in court, probably because all the women would have been naked to meet and discuss the branding with Keith.
Cooperation...
We finally got a glimpse of the types of cooperation agreements the other co-defendants made with the government for their plea deals. Lauren Salzman is to testify fully and truthfully, or her agreement would be nullified. The prosecution entered her plea agreement as evidence, though I've not seen a transcript. We also found out that India Oxenberg and Allison Mack provided thumb drives to the government which were also entered as evidence. India Oxenberg has not been charged with any crimes in the NXIVM indictments, but Allison Mack was. I wonder how many other un-charged conspirators have agreed to cooperate with the prosecution? Other details at the link above include the facts that Keith envisioned an 'army' of DOS Slaves possibly numbering in the millions at 'sorority houses' across the country.
Salzman's Unhappy Ending...
Wednesday morning, there was a lot of questioning about Daniela and her punishment. Daniela is the Mexican national, one of three sisters, who was in NXIVM and 'punished' by being held captive for almost two years in a bedroom at Keith's house in Clifton Park. Her younger sister Camila is the one Raniere started having sex with when she was 13. Daniela (aka Dani) is not to be confused with Daniella Padillo who bought all the sex toys. Daniela was ultimately dropped off on the Texas-Mexico border with no documents and a couple hundred bucks to continue her punishment after she left the bedroom. Her father dropped her off at the behest of Keith. The prosecution completed their questioning Wednesday and the defense counsel began cross-examination. Raniere's lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, brought Salzman to tears throughout five hours of cross. He was trying to get Lauren to talk about all the good things NXIVM and Raniere did not just for her, but for everyone. Agnifilo kept hammering until she was a sobbing mess and the judge put a stop to it. The Judge was really mad and finally told Agnifilo to be quiet and sit down.
Court drawing of Salzman testifying and Raniere
Another Mistrial Motion Denied...
The judge stopping the cross-examination of a lead witness and telling defense to sit down doesn't bode well. Judge Garaufis did this in front of the jury and court observers. Agnifilo immediately filed for a mistrial which the judge turned down almost as fast. Discussion of the mistrial is here. The risk is that the judge's intemperate decision will give Agnifilo and Raniere stronger grounds for an inevitable appeal. Temper, temper, judge.
Lo And Behold...
Now it becomes apparent why the prosecution spent so much time with Lauren Salzman discussing her and Keith's treatment of Daniela. The prosecution has called their next witness Thursday morning and....it's Daniela. The now 33 year old Mexican national that Keith kept in a room for almost two years and ultimately delivered to Mexico with not papers. She gave up a scholarship to an elite Swiss university to join NXIVM in 2002 and left in 2012. Her father introduced her to NXIVM and her father was the one that dropped her off on the Mexican border with no ID. Keith had asserted in 2002 that the world would end in 10-15 years and only his followers could help him change things. Where have we heard that kind of rhetoric before?
*Note, in previous posts I was very doubtful that Daniela would testify and even stated my belief that she was probably still loyal to the cult. I'm glad to see that's not the case. Her story of imprisonment and abandonment is the root of the "document servitude" charges against Raniere.
Daniela and Raniere in court Thursday
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