Even Clare Bronfman has standards…
While she’s OK being tried with someone who, like herself, has been charged with Racketeering, Racketeering Conspiracy, Identity Theft, and Immigration Offenses, she does not want to be tried with anyone who is facing any sex-related charges.
In a new Motion To Sever and the accompanying Memorandum-of-Law, Clare’s attorneys have requested that Clare not have to be tried with Keith Raniere, Allison Mack or Lauren Salzman.
But she’s OK with being tried together with Kathy Russell.
Frank Report readers may remember that Clare filed a similar motion after the first superseding indictment. Judge Garaufis has not yet ruled on that motion.
But with the unveiling last week of the second superseding indictment, Clare’s new lead attorney, Mark Geragos, is pushing even harder to get her tried separately from Keith, Allison, and Lauren.
Although some of Clare’s concerns may be alleviated if, as expected, Allison, Lauren, and Kathy take plea deals rather than go to trial, she would undoubtedly raise all the same objections if the only remaining defendants are her and Keith.
As Geragos points out in the new Memorandum-of-Law, the second superseding indictment “…deepens the divide between the Defendants who are charged with extraordinarily inflammatory offenses and those, like Bronfman, who are (sic) not”.
Geragos pulls no punches in explaining why it would be unfair – and “a miscarriage of justice” – if Judge Garaufis forces Clare to be tried with Raniere.
“The primary difference from the prior indictment is that Raniere is also charged with sexually exploiting a child and possessing child pornography, potentially exposing him to a mandatory minimum sentence of thirty years’ imprisonment…These charges relate to Raniere’s alleged sexual relationship with a fifteen-year-old girl when he was in his late forties.
“Inevitably, the government will present the alleged child pornography to the jury. And inevitably, the government will seek to introduce the purported evidence it has described at length concerning Raniere’s alleged history of ‘sexual assault and other abuse of girls and women’, including a twelve-year-old with whom he allegedly had ‘regular sexual intercourse’ under the guise of tutoring her”.
Geragos then cites a series of cases in which the potential introduction of evidence of child pornography led the court to sever those charges from the other pending charges.
And he points out that several media outlets have mistakenly reported that Clare is also facing sex-related charges:
“[A]rticle after article focuses on the new alleged child pornography charges and link[s] Ms. Bronfman to sex crimes that she is not alleged to have anything to do with. For instance, one article inaccurately reports: ‘Several women, including former Smallville star Allison Mack and Seagram liquor heir Clare Bronfman, allegedly helped run the operation and are awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges’. See https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/briannasacks/nxivm-groupfounder-child-porn-charges.”
“In this blatantly inaccurate reporting, Ms. Bronfman has been falsely accused of having actual knowledge of alleged relationships between Raniere and underage girls. See, e.g., https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/03/14/keith-raniere-nxivm-founder-child-porn-charge-alleged-cult-case/3165006002 . . . [‘The prosecutors also said they have dated images of the victim that were created and possessed by Raniere and evidence showing his co-defendants, including actress Allison Mack and Seagram’s liquor fortune heiress Clare Bronfman, knew of two relationships he had with underage girls.’]…”
Although we have not yet seen the prosecution’s response to this latest motion – it’s due to be filed later today – it appears that Geragos has raised some very significant issues.
And from Judge Garaufis’ standpoint, why take the risk of having the results of a trial overturned because he mandated that Clare stand trial with a man who has, in fact, been charged with some truly heinous crimes?
So, does that mean that Clare will get a separate trial from Keith?
Maybe not…
As previously noted, Judge Garaufis could grant Keith’s pending motion to sever the charges involving sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child pornography from the current case – and have those charges tried in the Northern District of New York (NDNY).
Doing that would address most of the objections that Geragos has raised in his latest filings – and would allow the trial to start, as presently scheduled, on April 29th or shortly thereafter (The only unresolved objection would be that Keith would still be facing one count for sex trafficking).
Assuming the plea deals for Allison, Lauren and Kathy get done – and assuming that Judge Garaufis severs the child sexual exploitation and child pornography charges from the current case – then the trial of Keith and Clare would likely run only 4-6 weeks.
That would allow him to push the pending trial back a couple of weeks – and still not force the jury to be hearing a case throughout the summer months.
*****
One other side-benefit of severing the child sexual exploitation and child pornography charges is that it would give the Northern District of New York a chance to make up for its 20-years of negligence with respect to Raniere and NXIVM/ESP.
And once a grand jury in Albany starts hearing evidence about the child sexual exploitation and child pornography charges, it’s also possible that the NDNY might put on its “big boy pants” and seek indictments against some of the other people in that area who participated in – and/or who aided and abetted – the NXIVM/ESP criminal enterprise.
And wouldn’t that be just wonderful?
[…] want to REITERATE how pathetically ignorant K. R. Claviger’s post Clare Bronfman Moves To Sever Trial From Those Charged With Sex Crimes was, suggesting that giving the case to the Northern District of New York Department of Justice […]
I’m not the only former prosecutor who noticed that many politically connected people went to NXIVM programs and were quoted saying positive things about it, on the NXIVM website, including the Albany County DA.
It’s damn good the prosecution is in a different part of NYS, and in the federal court.
You’re also not the only former prosecutor to not do anything about it.
[…] want to REITERATE how pathetically ignorant K. R. Claviger’s post Clare Bronfman Moves To Sever Trial From Those Charged With Sex Crimes was, suggesting that giving the case to the Northern District of New York Department of Justice […]
My ex bf taught me a lesson I will never forget.
He said “g, ever wonder why all these people never get indicted, go free, etc? Becsuse the judge LE, etc are guilty of the same crimes.”
To this day that is the wisest lesson ever given to me.
A wiser lesson is for everyone to speak out and put the crooks in prison.
I just wanted to double down on what Heidi said.
Also, I just wanted to REITERATE how pathetically ignorant Claviger’s post was, suggesting that giving the case to NDNY is a ‘side benefit’. LOL.
No, it’s not. You shithead.
It’s a side benefit for Keith, not for the victims.
The NDNY has not brought any charges against NXIVM over the last decade — even with TONS of first hand witnesses sending them data about NXIVM’s illegal deeds (including tax fraud).
BTW: The IRS doesn’t reject ‘large’ cases of tax fraud regardless of how limited their manpower may be, especially high profile cases which involve a billionaire’s daughter and a cult sicko.
The IRS actively seeks out such high profile cases for ‘publicity’ purposes —- because those cases get lots of free media exposure and serve as a deterrent against other tax cheaters. In fact, the IRS even seeks out ‘small’ dollar sum cases which have the potential for ‘high profile’ media exposure, for deterrent purposes.
In simple terms, the IRS has a limited deterrent budget so any ‘free media’ (to bring awareness of tax cheaters being prosecuted) is a good thing.
Thus, anybody within the state or federal government who might have ‘ignored’ NXIVM’s tax fraud evidence (over the last decade) did it for political or personal reasons, not for ‘official’ reasons and not for ‘manpower’ reasons, LOL.
The NDNY hasn’t done SHIT about NXIVM. Yet Claviger now believes that’ll change. The definition of ‘insanity’ is expecting a different outcome from the SAME OLD SHIT happening again.
Guess what? The NDNY ain’t gonna do shit. At best, they’ll offer Keith a sweetheart plea deal just to pretend as though they’re doing something.
Claviger is an ignorant clown. He’s an Albany based attorney himself. He’s rotten to the core. He should team up with the NDNY and take their circus on the road, bringing laughs to people everywhere.
That would be wonderful but IDK if any of the pussies in the NDNY judicial system own any big boy pants.
Even with the misogynist bullies like Bruno and Schneiderman out, there’s Kristin Gillibrand and others — loathe to admit they.ve ever erred — whose political ambitions may yet stymy rather than help fully secure justice in this matter in NYND or under State law in Albany.
Good article. It sounds like someone (Geragos) is finally doing their job. Shocker of shockers.
But on the other hand, if Clare was part of the inner circle, and Clare (along with hiding out in France Sara Bronfman) help to fund NXIVM/ESP activities (trips, private jets, real estate, commodities trading, etc). Then Clare must have known that Keith was molesting Rhiannon and the minor DP from Mexico. Duh!
So, it seems like Clare is trying to use the Kristin Kreuk defense — Didn’t see anything, didn’t know anything.
“I had minimal contact with those who were still involved. The accusations that I was in the ‘inner circle’ or recruited women as ‘sex slaves’ are blatantly false. During my time I never experienced any illegal or nefarious activity. I am horrified and disgusted by what has come out about DOS.” – KK on NXIVM
Whatevs
What the fuck is this:?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0B9zfmTmnF8
D-list smell-the-fart actress Kristin Crook and Mark “Cuck” Hildreth calling themselves the “producers” of a “documentary” called “Getting Back To America” in 2007.
Is this NXIVM related or are they both just pretentious cunts?
Also, both are Canadian so why make it about America? Canadian soldiers went to Iraq and Afghanistan too. Is this because NXIVM HQ’s is based in the US?
The cuck said they had an “awareness working closely with combat veterans”.
Where would two useless creatures like Kristin Crook and Mark Hildreth be “working closely with combat veterans”!?
Men who fight in wars and get killed and injured are cut from another cloth than these two crazy cultists. Where would they meet combat veterans? Is this a NXIVM agenda? They were talking the usual word salad of “values” and wanting a “greater understanding of the world”.
Also, seeing them side by side, they must of been having the most boring vanilla sex. He’s a loser soy-boy and she looks like a nervous pillow princess. Then again, Jane the DOS slave said Kristin Crook was into BDSM and was a sub. Girls By Design anyone?
“I am horrified and disgusted by what has come out about DOS.” – KK on NXIVM
****
Sure, real disgusted and horrified. She wasn’t when she found out the old scumbag was a pedophile and rapist years ago, even being named in the expose that exposed him as such! No supporting Gina Hutchinson and Rhiannon. And the fact she said “DOS” and not “NXIVM”. That is because the little coward knew years ago NXIVM was corrupt and vile. That is why she did not reveal her true role in the cult. DOS was just two years of NXIVM, the real bullshit was happening years before. She probably thinks people should believe Ally Wack knew nothing bad before DOS was formed in 2015 too!
It doesn’t matter what Clare knew. It matters what the Feds can prove she knew, beyond a reasonable doubt.
https://twitter.com/SultanOfSix/status/1109202864432431107
The Spank Goblin, is whats known in the medical profession as a “c*nt”.
Sultan lost 50% of his Twitter followers. He went from 2 to 1.
Smh. Facepalm
True, but Sultan is going for quality over quantity. She looks pretty hot: https://twitter.com/SultanOfSix/followers
Someone foolishly followed him, then changed their mind after reading his aspergers ramblings😂.
And the Spank Phantom is not even following his dream spank. Did she block him!?🤭
That would be wonderful, but I don’t trust the NDNY.
Side benefit, you say?
You twit.
The side benefit will in Keith’s favor, you fucken DUNCE.
A “side benefit” for Keith will be that the US Attorney for NDNY will simply do as he’s always done — not seek any indictments using an Albany-based grand jury.
He’ll just let Keith skate.
Or at best, he’ll offer Keith easy plea deals with very little jail time. Easy peasy. Case closed. No justice.
The media in Albany will forget about it after a few weeks. There will be no political consequences.
Up yours, Claviger.
You’re a legal pussy and I hope the judge in your next case SHITS ALL OVER YOU AND YOUR CLIENT. 🙂
This must be some of the nxivm compassion I’ve heard about.
You really should cut back on the drinking Dennis.
If charges based on indictments already handed down are transferred to another district, then the case goes forward in that district, regardless.
The question is how vigorously it’s prosecuted in that district, which there is some reason to doubt in this case. Hopefully, the judge, and maybe even the prosecutors, are savvy enough to be justly concerned about that,
The other option would be to declare that Raniere couldn’t get a fair trial in Albany – an objection the defense typically ought to make, though in reality the prosecution should object that he might get judicial treatment unfairly biased in his favor – and move the case to a completely different district, preferably one known for taking sex crimes cases seriously.
Yes, move it to EDNY.
You are absolutely correct that the two counts involving the alleged sexual exploitation of a child – and the one count involving the alleged possession of child pornography – could be prosecuted in the Northern District of New York (NDNY) if those charges are simply transferred there.
What makes this matter a bit more complicated is the language contained in the motion that was filed earlier this week by Raniere’s lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo. In addition to asking that the three sex-related charges be severed from the pending case in the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) and transferred to the NDNY, Agnifilo also asked that those charges be dismissed.
I don’t know if Agnifilo was being sloppy or sly in the way that he worded that motion. But depending on how Judge Garaufis rules, it’s possible that the NDNY would have to start over with grand jury proceedings in order to prosecute Raniere on the sex-related charges.
I am very well aware that the NDNY did absolutely nothing to stop the NXIVM/ESP criminal enterprise for almost 20 years. But I am hopeful that the current U.S. Attorney for the NDNY – who only assumed that position less than 2-years ago – might be more willing to take on Raniere and those who enabled him to carry out his criminal activities.
Southern District Manhatta Keith can room with Harvey Weinstein! Haha
Evidently you haven’t heard that we have a new Attorney General in Albany and it is a woman!
Keith will no longer get any protection in New York after his conviction in Brooklyn.
Senator Gillibrand wants to be POTUS and will try to distance herself from Nxium.
Two separate courts is great. Two convictions with sentences running consecutive
Fifty years for Keith looks real good.
Also the DOJ in Albany or the State criminal court can convene a Grand Jury for the whole pack.
Remember Mannafort.
Nancy your joy may be premature.
The indictment by a grand jury is already on the books. This is a simple change of venue.