Jan 26, 2019

Accused Nxivm sex-cult leader asks to be freed on $1M bond


Emily Saul
NY Post
January 25, 2019

The head of the alleged sex cult Nxivm hopes the third time’s the charm.

Keith Raniere has just made his third pitch to be sprung from the Metropolitan Detention Center, where he’s been held since his April 2018 arraignment, given that his trial date has been repeatedly pushed back by prosecutorial delays.

His request blasts the government for again postponing his trial and insinuates that prosecutors are purposefully dragging their feet to keep him locked up.

“Raniere could not help but notice how adept the Government was at keeping innocent people in prison by simply refusing to try them and by using its own failure to produce discovery as an excuse,” writes defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo in the new filing.

Brooklyn federal court Judge Nicholas Garaufis has previously refused to release Raniere, dubbing him a flight risk.

This time, Agnifilo suggests his client be released on $1 million bond secured by five properties, and a redacted amount of cash. The package also says Raniere would be subject to full home confinement, electronic monitoring, daily check-ins with pretrial services, no internet access and other conditions — including moving to a spot near the courthouse once the trial starts.

Raniere, “Smallville” TV actress Allison Mack, Seagram’s heiress Clare Bronfman and others are facing various charges, including racketeering conspiracy, for their role in Nxivm.

Raniere and Mack are also facing sex-trafficking conspiracy charges for allegedly running a secret master-slave group inside Nxivm, where the women were branded and supposedly instructed to have sex with Raniere.

Garaufis has yet to rule on the motion.

Opening statements are currently scheduled for April 29.

https://nypost.com/2019/01/25/accused-nxivm-sex-cult-leader-asks-to-be-freed-on-1m-bond/

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