At his sentencing on October 27, 2020, Keith Alan Raniere exercised his right to make a statement.
He spoke after 14 victims spoke, after his attorney, Marc Agnifilo argued for leniency, and after the prosecutor, Tanya Hajjar, argued for a life sentence.
To the best of my knowledge, no one has published his sentencing statement to date. It runs about 600 words, slightly longer than the prosecution’s statement. As he said this live, 10 of the victims were in the courtroom. They were Toni Natalie, Barbara Bouchey, Susan Dones, Kristin Keeffe, Nicole, India Oxenberg, Jane Doe/Victoria, Adrian, Adriana, and Daniela.
Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis was on the bench.
THE COURT: All right before turning to the analysis of the [sentencing] factors, is there anything defendant would like to say before sentencing?
THE DEFENDANT: Yes. I don’t have anything written. I do believe strongly that I’m innocent of the charges. But it is also true that I see all this pain, and although some of these people really are not factual, and, in some cases, I believe, strongly lying, that doesn’t matter either because they are lying for a reason and that reason stems from me.
The whole issue that’s been brought up about my remorse, it is true. I am not remorseful of the crimes I don’t believe I committed at all. But I’m deeply remorseful over this pain. And I am deeply remorseful over this anger. And what I want from all of the victims, all the people who feel I’ve hurt them, even if I don’t feel it’s legitimate, I ask forgiveness and that at some point in life that I be forgiven.
And I am deeply sorry. I did not mean to cause this pain, cause this anger that is evident.
And even with the people that I believe really are not telling the truth, I feel responsible for that too, and I do feel deep remorse. I do not feel remorse for the crimes I did not commit. I’m innocent of those crimes. And a lot of the things that are said are simply really not true.
But I am, I will repeat and end with, I am so sorry, I’m truly sorry.
And I’ve listened to everything that each of you said, even the things that I didn’t believe were true and know are not true, and it’s still painful. Because to get up there and speak takes courage, takes upset, takes anger, takes all that. That does come from me.
That’s something I never want to cause in the world, and I have caused in the world. For that, I am deeply sorry.
There is one final point I want to make, with respect to Clare [Bronfman], with respect to Allison [Mack], with respect to Nancy [Salzman] especially, but all my co-defendants, not only are they innocent, but please, for those of you who spoke of people like Allison and Nancy and Clare, please rethink their roles.
Blame me if you have to, because it stems from me, it’s not them. They are good souls. They are good people. Sometimes, they may get angry, they may do things that are out of anger. But the real truth is Allison should spend no time in prison. Allison did testify against me or cooperated against me.
Lauren [Salzman] shouldn’t spend any time in prison. Lauren was a key witness against me, but she’s a good person. And I may disagree with her doing that or what she said, but she wasn’t at fault; nor was Allison, especially not Nancy, and not Clare.
Please don’t lump them with me. They are good souls. They are innocent.
I believe I’m innocent. I believe I tried my best and I did have good intent, but I see that I have led to this place where there is so much anger and so much pain.
And I’m deeply sorry. And also, I see that where I am is caused by me. I don’t blame anyone for that. This is my doing, this is all my doing that way.
So, I’m deeply remorseful and repentant. No matter where I am, I will be forever not only different but I will carry this with me.
I know I can’t experience as much pain as you guys, the people who I’ve hurt or who are angered, and even if you’re lying, it doesn’t matter. But I’ve caused that and I do carry that.
And I am repentant and I am remorseful over that. But I’m not remorseful over charges that those aren’t right, that those aren’t right. The hurt is true; the anger is true.
So thank you for listening. And I am sorry.
THE COURT: Thank you.
***
What to make of this statement? Let us do a little analysis, though really it speaks for itself.
Keith makes a point to say he does not have a written statement and this is in contrast to the victims who all read written statements.
His themes are small in number. F\
First: He is innocent.
He says during the course of his statement:
- I do believe strongly that I’m innocent of the charges.
- I am not remorseful of the crimes I don’t believe I committed at all.
- I do not feel remorse for the crimes I did not commit.
- I’m innocent of those crimes.
- I believe I’m innocent. I believe I tried my best and I did have good intent.
- I’m not remorseful over charges that those aren’t right, that those aren’t right.
Second: The victims lied.
- some of these people really are not factual, and, in some cases, I believe, strongly lying
- they are lying for a reason
- I want from all of the victims, all the people who feel I’ve hurt them, even if I don’t feel it’s legitimate
- And even with the people that I believe really are not telling the truth
- a lot of the things that are said are simply really not true
- I’ve listened to everything that each of you said, even the things that I didn’t believe were true and know are not true,
- and even if you’re lying, it doesn’t matter.
Third: He’s remorseful [but not for the crimes of conviction] but sorry that victims are blaming him and are feeling pain.
- I see all this pain… and that reason stems from me.
- I’m deeply remorseful over this pain.
- I am deeply remorseful over this anger.
- all the people who feel I’ve hurt them, even if I don’t feel it’s legitimate, I ask forgiveness
- And I am deeply sorry.
- I did not mean to cause this pain, cause this anger.
- And even with the people that I believe really are not telling the truth, I feel responsible for that too, and I do feel deep remorse.
- I am so sorry, I’m truly sorry.
- I am deeply sorry.
- I see that I have led [as the Vanguard] to this place where there is so much anger and so much pain. And I’m deeply sorry.
- I’m deeply remorseful and repentant.
- I am repentant and I am remorseful [but[ not remorseful over charges that … aren’t right.
- And I am sorry.
Allison Mack and Lauren Salzman both cooperated with the prosecutors against Raniere.
Fourth: He wants his codefendants, including Lauren and Allison who cooperated against him, to be spared prison.
- With respect to Clare [Bronfman]… Allison [Mack]… Nancy [Salzman] especially, but all my co-defendants… they [are] innocent
- please, for those of you who spoke [at his and Clare’s sentencing and plan to speak at Nancy and Allison’s sentencing] … please rethink [Clare, Nancy and Allison’s] roles.
- Blame me if you have to, because it stems from me, it’s not them.
- They are good souls. They are good people.
- Allison should spend no time in prison. Allison did testify against me, or cooperated against me.
- Lauren shouldn’t spend any time in prison. Lauren was a key witness against me, but she’s a good person.
- Please don’t lump them with me.
- They are good souls.
- They are innocent.
He also takes the responsibility for being in prison:
- I see that where I am is caused by me.
- I don’t blame anyone for that.
- This is my doing, this is all my doing that way.
- even if you’re lying, it doesn’t matter… I’ve caused that and I do carry that.
Raniere is right. He has no one to blame but himself.
Let us give him the benefit of the doubt. Assuming, arguendo, that he, as a teacher, a Vanguard, an ethicist, the person to whom his students, his community, were to believe in faithfully, to give tribute to, the highest authority they knew or could know, had his students’ best interest at heart, that he was trying to help them grow, be more successful, happy, aware, to become “unified,” as he called it, a person without any emotional or mental wreckage – having no “disintegrations,” an integrated person, then how did it come to this?
How did the prosecution collect nearly 100 victim impact statements made against him and 14 victims to speak at his sentencing? Woman after woman who felt he deceived them, betrayed them, abused them?
How does it happen that a man with good intentions causes such grief? Are the victims lying? Did the media, the government, the greed for gain in the form of desire to be in a civil lawsuit shape their stories?
The victims’ stories were not the same; and yet they were. Almost always, Keith had a sexual relationship with the victim. Oftentimes, the women claimed he lied. There is no victim that did not accuse Keith of lying.
Sex and lies. This is what he stands accused of. Consider, if Keith had only taught without having sex with any of them, would any of the victims be there? If he always told the truth, then what would have happened?
Frank Parlato 
Janine Morrison 
J.J. O'Hara 
Richard Luthmann 
Marie White 
Paul Serran
He’s keeping his options open with Bronfman because he will continue to need her money. And Allison too. I would wager a bet these two are writing to him, even though it is illegal to do so. They are popping their messages in letter that other people who are writing him. Arizona needs to get in front of that. Bronfman is a clear and present danger. Her wealth could secure an escape from prison for him, and life long anonymity in some crevice somewhere
Beware false idols. The coverage on this is good. In this lonely world where morality is being chiseled away, one can see how vulnerable each of us are to these modern day cults.Gut instinics is all we have to protect ourselves, when we ignore that, we are at the mercy of anything ot anyone.
Keith’s teachings actively destroys the link we have to our intuition. That’s why you have those loons dancing in front of jails
Question about Raniere’s Sentencing Statement, which was about 600 words. Is the speaking time for defendants also limited to 10 minutes, or could Raniere have filibustered with a speech that went on for days if he had wanted or been able to speak that long, given his great importance to all the good he did and worked for? If he had only had a short speaking time, how could he have addressed and explained everything, how innocent and good he is, and how bad the others are who accuse him?
Interesting question…I could not find any Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure that set a time limit on how long a convicted federal defendant can speak at his sentencing hearing – which leads me to believe that this matter is handled via the “local rules” adopted by each district. But rest assured, Judge Garaufis would not have allowed Keith – or anyone else – to filibuster in his courtroom. At most, I think he would have given Keith 30-minutes but even then, those 30-minutes would very likely have been interrupted by questions from the judge.
For a nice summary of what usually happens at a federal sentencing hearing, you can check out: https://www.swilliams-law.net/blog/federal-sentencing-hearings-what-to-expect
[…] Keith Alan Raniere’s statement to the court at his sentencing hearing, it was time for the judge to sentence the […]
Thank you for publishing this. It helps me understand Mr. Raniere’s stance and the way he feels about his accusers. I’m disappointed in the other media outlets for not even providing a word of Raniere’s statement.
All of these NXIVM folks claiming to be victims were more than happy to jump in on the fun and take the opportunity to go after the Bronfmans’ money once it became socially acceptable to do so. What’s a little lie compared to gaining a fortune? The whole world is convinced he’s the worst person on earth. Who would doubt you? How did these 100 people who believe they were so wronged not do a damn thing or say a damn word or file a single complaint until there was a lot of money to be had. I mean c’mon.
If someone did something illigal to you and the usa constitution, or a judge orders etc that you can recive money, in Payment for something wrong that someone like clare bronfman did you you is the law. So WTF? Why do you side with the pedophile? Im.tired of people thinking that these Brave individuals are some how wrong to go for.the kinda.good part about the law, i.mean.is.more.usefull.than must prison time, anyways. But if you dont agree ti and be a lawyer, change the rules of the usa etc dont crític someone just for going to the must Direct Rute to get some Justice in these usless system. How much It cost the time they waste? Rape? The pain, misoginy , humilation etc ? Can you put a price on pedophilia? Is someone rapes you can you put a number that pays that? No? Well the you see the problem with those things right? The bronfmans plan to rule the world with Nxivm and thats a fact. At least influence the elections right? And they support pedophilia, Incluiding Salzman . So what that world.wpuld.look like?
Some of them have been talking their truths for a long time. Some of them have been sued into bankruptcy by Raniere and his cohort through continual vexatious litigation that led to nothing – except, of course, the victims losing all they had in the endless battles against Clare Bronfman’s deep pockets. Some of them had the courage to go public trying to stop the abuse going on in this group – there are many articles out there over many years where these people have been trying to do something about the wrongs done by Raniere and crew. And there may be some who, as you say, are “happy to jump in on the fun,” but there are plenty who are just trying to recover what was taken from them.
First, I admire your courage to speak up on here and present an authentic point of view.
Jax787, is that what you’ve been told? That no one made a peep about any mistreatment until Mr. Glazer and others filed suit on behalf of the alleged victims?
That’s far from the truth. In fact, if you’ll please read some of the current and past threads on here you’ll see that over decades many of us made reports and if you don’t trust Frank — as much as Keith apparently does these days — didn’t Keith, Lauren, Nancy, Clare, all your top tier NXIVM leaders constantly discuss how much persecution was going on against Keith and all he stands for?
Susan Dones told me, once, about a year or so after quitting NX, that she still had a mental block, a nervousness about going on the Saratoga In Decline blog bc it was so forbidden.
Could it be that you’ve blocked out some facts from sources you may be conditioned to distrust and fear?
Reports were made to numerous, various law enforcement and media sources. (Btw, if you’re looking for corruption in the justice system I know a real good place you can start.)
Again, it’s a lie that no complaints were made. ESP/NXIVM was on Rock Ross’ dangerous cult watchlist long before any Bronfman came aboard. I’m sure you know that but there was no conspiracy, there WAS a complaint. Many.
You know that. Keith and Nancy — even the CBI lot before Nancy — they were victims of Govt. and other persecution from way back even before Rick Ross
Or they were crying wolf — from Edgar Bronfman on down — to gobble up Clare’s gilt by guilting her over her Dad’s alleged “attacks” bc he labeled, stigmatized ESP/NX as a “cult.” Or, wait, wasn’t that Rick Ross?
If this is really what he said (I’m not convinced), I find it concerning that all I’ve seen in the media and especially on India and her mother’s publicity tour is that Keith was not sorry and not remorseful at all but he apologizes many many many times here and even takes responsibility for other people’s anger and hurt. I get that he still maintained his innocence which probably pisses everyone off royally but over and over again, I just keep seeing this false or extremely exaggerated portrayal of things in the media vs the transcripts. If the man is so evil, why does the media even need to do this? India and her mom should know that this will only make people doubt them even on things that are true – which is a shame and, at this point, it’s getting hard to decipher from them.
Honestly… he never took responsibility for his actions. Only any pain he MAY have caused… that is classic narcissistic gaslighting and blame-shifting. The fact Frank thinks it is ok to continue posting this man is absurd to me. He is facilitating this man’s ongoing abuse by publishing about him on a daily basis. The man is clearly not remorseful… read it all again and really understand what he is saying.
He wants still to have power – over whether those others go to prison or not, to feel still in control over what happens to them when he is powerless.
He is sorry people were hurt but probably really only sorry he was caught., He seemed to have no problems causing women who left him pain via litigation, etc. over decades. He had no problem upsetting women when they found out he was in bed with lots of different ones. He was quite happy to construct and copy cod psychology about how wicked or weak women are to make them feel really useless and that only he could “cure” them of inherent faults (faults they never really had).
I bet he is not even sorry he wasted so much Bronfman money.
@Jane Smith: I sincerely value and respect your thoughtful observations on this site, so forgive me, but:
—”I bet he is not even sorry he wasted so much Bronfman money.”
I bet Anna Nicole Smith was not even sorry she wasted so much Marshall money.
Being a gold digger is probably not a noble thing, but people don’t usually rot in supermax for it.
Alison, with respect, he was not sentenced for gold digging. And in my opinion, he has only himself to blame for the consecutive nature of the individual sentences. Furthermore, I highly doubt that Keith is headed for Supermax.
I would expect nothing less from a “Luciferian” who secretly destroys while pretending to care. He clearly has a personality disorder that allows him to talk out of both sides of his mouth. And it’s ironic that his mission was to teach people how to spot and avoid people exactly like him and yet drew people to him regardless. He was practically shouting from the rooftops that he couldn’t be trusted. I wonder if he is offered psychiatric therapy in prison if he would take it. But then again, he might try to convert the psychiatrist, so maybe it’s better to let him rot alone in his cell.
I didn’t do it. But if I did do it, I didn’t mean it. Everyone is lying. Everyone is out to get me. I meant well. I didn’t do it – at least not all of it. What I did do, if it was even wrong, was done with good intentions and I’m sorry if that hurt anybody.
Please.
Are you paraphrasing Raniere or Trump here?
Why make everything political, ffs?
Protest outside of MDC the other day for release of immune comprised inmates.
https://www.brooklynpaper.com/mdc-covid-19-covid-19-cases-protest/
“I am deeply remorseful.
I’m deeply sorry.
I see that where I am is caused by me.
I don’t blame anyone for that.
This is my doing.
And I am repentant and I am remorseful.
But I do not feel remorse for the crimes I did not commit.
I’m innocent of those crimes.
And a lot of the things that are said are simply really not true.
I am not remorseful of the crimes I don’t believe I committed at all.”
So, that escalated quickly.
I’ve been curious about his statement for so long and now that I’m seeing it in print, only one word comes to mind: Underwhelming.
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but considering his supposedly evil genius and propensity for word salad, his statement was so plain. Small. Unremarkable.
Agreed. Raniere might as well have gotten Covid and lost his sense of smell, touch, taste and thought – that’s how off the mark his statement sounds. He has no sense of anything really, no judo champ maneuvers, no 4d chess, no way to possibly be the genius he touted himself to be, no inkling of seeking the higher ground, no view from above to realize the next best move is the only move: repentance, remorse, recalibration. What a pathetic final reminder that the grand wizard is just a dumb scared weak naked man hiding in a closet.
1.c4 !!!
More interesting to me than what is there in people like Raniere, is what isn’t there. The absence of empathy, compassion, love, genuine altruism; a capacity for charity and no-strings-attached giving. Appropriate regret. Appropriate feelings of guilt over harming another. These are all components of a healthy mind, including the full spectrum of emotions, both pleasant and unpleasant.
I can’t help but wonder if Raniere has ever felt genuine sorrow or joy.
We know that he can feel fear, anger, and jealousy. That has been demonstrated, but I suspect that he experiences life within a very narrow emotional spectrum. Moments of elation, rather than joy. Misery, rather than sorrow.
This is sometimes called ‘Poverty of Affect.’
Perhaps he derived a certain pleasure from observing the emotional reactions in others that he couldn’t feel himself.
A kind of vicarious experience.
Even now, he demonstrates a peculiar emotional detachment from his own circumstances. It’s all oddly unfeeling.
He is the most broken of them all.
Re “He is the most broken of them all.”
That sounds very sympathetic. As if you could feel sympathy for it. But I’m not feeling sympathy for it. Raniere, was fully aware of his emotional state, as evidenced by previous reports about his behavior and his own statements. The only relevant thing for me is whether he was guilty and insightful in his crimes. And there is my judgment that in doing so, systematically and with a previously considered plan, he purposefully implemented his goals, fully aware that they included crimes. He had no loss of control over his actions, he knew what he was doing. Therefore, he is fully responsible and fully accountable for his criminal behavior and actions.
Raniere thinks that because he didn’t actually execute the crimes, but manipulated, convinced, cajoled, coaxed, commanded, etc., others to commit them for him, he’s ultimately not responsible for them, which is in line with his “there are no ultimate victims” canard. He couldn’t have had even a fingernail tip on his pinky in anything others did for him.
That is why the RICO statute was actualized into law–due to mob bosses and the like. The “smartest man in the world” is an idiot.
Yes, he is fully accountable for his actions, but he is not a normal human being. Not by a mile. I feel no sympathy for him whatsoever. I stand by my statement.
@Paul
Just chiming in that I didn’t read sympathy in your observations.
Plus, why should someone get sympathy for perhaps being unable to experience the world in the same way as most other people? Differences are differences. It is what it is. I don’t think he woke up one day and said, “From here on out, I choose to be incapable of feeling empathy and true sorrow or joy.” He has to deal with the cards he was dealt. I’m not his shrink so I don’t know if he is indeed sociopathic or narcissistic, but even if he is, that’s not evil in and of itself. It’s what the person does with it, IMO.
I am a psychiatrist, but I won’t offer a diagnosis, for ethical reasons. I went as far as I can go in my previous statement. I doubt that he will ever be officially diagnosed with anything. He doesn’t seem to consider himself to be ill and the US legal system will see no profit in it.
Some people prefer to label the likes of Raniere as simply ‘evil,’ but as I know you are aware, there’s a bit more to it than that…
Apologies, surrounded by the picket fences of Raniere’s convenient little conditionalities and loopholes, are not either remorseful or regretful. These are weak, fake and projected apologies, to me.
Raniere’s back against the wall, called out as a malevolent liar and user of others, drooled out a few tricky words. He is “sorry” that people are angry, hurt or disappointed with regard to him. He can’t imagine what he has done to cause people such negative emotions or thoughts, but if he has, gee whiz, oops, and by golly, what a shame that THEY are upset, ’cause he surely didn’t mean to mess with their instabilities, weaknesses or gullibility. He did not cause their internal or external failures or crimes.
He just needed a better batch of suckers. These miserable, complaining disciples of his were not really worthy after all. No one can get it right but poor old, martyred Keithy-Weethie. Everyone missed his boat of enlightenment because they were too insecure and inadequate to comprehend Raniere’s magnificence. His solutions to everybody’s needy problems were given over and over again, but everyone failed to wake up to his version of the truth about human interactions. He still likes a few of his acolytes but, boy oh boy, they were dumbos. He must be rather disappointed that nobody learned any fucking executive success from out of his poison. Ah cha. Tough pizza. Have another slice of delusion.
I always appreciate your deep insights and understanding, Shivani. May you go from strength to strength.
Yes, I agree, Doc. Shivani is a flowfully, flowing, glowing stream lighting our gaseous way through this dim, dank forest of fallacies, trolls, and ghosts of Christmas past…🙃.
Raniere is a lightweight: https://fact.charity/wrongful-death-lawsuit-of-naropa-dance-student-upheld/ LOL
I’ll be back when sentencing occurs. This isn’t a good use of time or energy. It’s certainly not enjoyable to watch the darkness of sadistic speculation of the finer points of misogynistic rape culture. Certainly, the alcoholic misogyny is boring.
I believe with certitude they are broken refuse, and followers linger because they too are like Keith. Let them use up Clare’s money, let them spend the rest of their lives obsessing over how right Keith is. Who cares? The world is littered with such people.
Begging a blogger to be heard doesn’t sound in keeping with The 12 Point Mission Statement. Sad.
Let them dig deeper holes of isolation from the outside world as pariahs. It’s where they belong.
—”Certainly, the alcoholic misogyny is boring.”
But the sober misandry is a thrill ride.
(couldn’t resist)
How many boxes are checked off based on statements and written documentation of The Church of Keith?
“ Researchers have developed a Communal Narcissism Inventory, which asks participants to signify their agreement or disagreement with the following statements about themselves on a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 for strongly disagree and 7 for strongly agree:
I am the most helpful person I know.
I am going to bring peace and justice to the world.
I am the best friend someone can have.
I will be well known for the good deeds I will have done.
I am (going to be) the best parent on this planet.
I am the most caring person in my social surrounding.
In the future, I will be well known for solving the world’s problems.
I greatly enrich others’ lives.
I will bring freedom to the people.
I am an amazing listener.
I will be able to solve world poverty.
I have a very positive influence on others.
I am generally the most understanding person.
I’ll make the world a much more beautiful place.
I am extraordinarily trustworthy.
I will be famous for increasing people’s well-being.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/tech-support/201605/the-communal-narcissist-another-wolf-wearing-sheep-outfit
His word salad psycho babbling reminds me of someone who visits this site to defend the child recruiter Kristen Kruek.
A rambling, incoherent mess. He wants to be rewarded for showing repentance while absurdly maintaining his innocence.
Sorry – not sorry.
This is the smartest man alive? This is the man fools flocked to, paying tens of thousands of dollars for his wisdom? He’s a dumbass!
This was his big chance. His exit scene, his final word. The moment to verbally cut down his enemies, to reveal the shocking truths, to reveal his noble self in all its glory.
Instead, he whined and cringed like the cowardly little bitch that he is.
Sultan? Wasabi Steak? That you disguised in pork now?
I imagined Billy Mumy making excuses for sending people to The Cornfield. He’s really sorry he’s alone now.
A valid apology always includes a confession: “I am sorry that I stole your apples.”
Raniere’s version is not an apology: “I am sorry that you are upset about your apples.”
“I did nothing wrong, but I’m sorry that you’re upset.”
Paul wrote that Keith seems to be saying:
—”I did nothing wrong, but I’m sorry that you’re upset.”
And this is not a real apology.
But what about when Keith said this:
“…to get up there and speak takes courage, takes upset, takes anger, takes all that. That does come from me. That’s something I never want to cause in the world, and I have caused in the world.”
Sounds to me like he is taking responsibility there. As well as:
“it stems from me, it’s not them.”
“I see that I have led to this place where there is so much anger and so much pain.”
“I see that where I am is caused by me.”
“This is my doing, this is all my doing that way.”
“…I’ve caused that and I do carry that.”
I think he is taking responsibility for the pain. He is not saying he did NOTHING wrong. He’s saying as far as the crimes are concerned, he is innocent of wrongdoing. He is NOT saying that he has never made any mistake EVER regarding anything. But in regard to the criminal charges, he sincerely believes that he is innocent. I do not see anything disingenuous about that.
KAR’s statement – I don’t know where to start! Meanwhile in the UK, Covid vaccinations started today and Sky News are calling it V Day. I guess this is V Week. Is there nothing left for poor ol’ Vanguard? 🤭😠😭
Pyriel, all of you in the UK have my very best wishes for quick success of the vaccine.
Thanks Nancy👍
I like Pyriel’s refreshing quips and links, too, Nancy.
Oh Vanguard! I’ll let Blade say it…
https://media1.tenor.com/images/8deb6e905de68b026edec95a96b86e24/tenor.gif?itemid=7931865
V-week to honor Keith Raniere is from August 22nd to August 31st. This V-Week lasted for 10 days. It begins 4 days before Keith Raniere’s birthday on August 26th and continues 5 days after his birthday.
[ Note the new time calculation when a week is 10 days long ]
Please keep us posted on those vax results on your side of the pond. Are we getting the same one or a modified US patented version?
I think Raniere might be a man who lacks common sense. He takes no responsibility for anything because he doesn’t feel the weight of his own actions. He could be either very evil or mentally ill. If he’s shocked by the pain he’s caused, it means a complete lack of empathy. This man must have lied so much in his life that he might even believe what he’s saying himself. He used to run other people’s lives, now others control his. That’s what karma does.
Missed one question: Consider, if Keith had only taught without having sex with any of them, would any of the victims be there? If he always told the truth, then what would have happened? ===> Raniere probably would have been found guilty of the blackmail crimes, bringing in illegal aliens, kidnapping, etc., in other words, most of the charges. LOL
Everybody is missing that Raniere taught that pain is true love, so there is plenty of “love” to go around. LOL
He also appears to be unaware that Bronfman was already sentenced. LOL
The time to catch the liars lying was during the trial, and he was very general in his accusations, or as Raniere would say it, “lacking data.” LOL
To answer the questions asked:
How did the prosecution collect nearly 100 victim impact statements made against him and 14 victims to speak at his sentencing? Woman after woman who felt he deceived them, betrayed them, abused them? ===> Because Raniere is a scam artist. LOL
How does it happen that a man with good intentions causes such grief? Are the victims lying? Did the media, the government, the greed for gain in the form of desire to be in a civil lawsuit shape their stories? ===> It doesn’t, Raniere is a scam artist. If the victims were lying, Raniere offered little to no evidence that they did. Of course there was a greed for gain, there always is, but he was found guilty by a jury that provided Raniere due process. LOL
Keith Raniere is no more evil than Joe Beijing Biden.
After all Biden raped a woman named Tara Reade who worked in his office.
Well, as long as Frank is going to allow accusations of rape by American Presidents to be stated as is they were proven facts among the comments he approves, your President Trump raped a 13-year-old girl at a party hosted by his pedophile friend Jeff Epstein, sexually assaulted numerous women (including the woman who co-authored Catherine Oxenberg’s book), and also raped at least one other.
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-teen-rape-allegation-national-enquirer-ronan-farrow-jane-doe-1465652
https://people.com/politics/donald-trump-attacked-people-writer/
https://www.courthousenews.com/trump-cant-pause-suit-by-rape-accuser-e-jean-carroll/
—He’s remorseful [but not for the crimes of conviction] but sorry that victims are blaming him and are feeling pain.
Is it possible for Keith Raniere to have any true remorse or feelings of guilt?
Frank, I remember when you told us the story when Keith and a few others carried Pam out of the hospital on a stretcher and they dropped her in a stairwell. Pam is the one person that Raniere may have actually loved and he thought it funny to drop her.
****
Keith Raniere is not capable of true empathy – otherwise, he never would have broken so many women emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
No one with empathy or guilt could have ever hurt so all of the women he has hurt.
********
On a previous post, I cited the following:
THE COURT:
“You don’t have to be the smartest man in the world to manipulate and to harm other people. And that is really what we are talking about here.”
KAR was able “to manipulate and to harm other people” because they believed him to be “the smartest man in the world” – because they decided, albeit unconsciously, to believe him in advance. And they decided, albeit unconsciously, to believe him in advance because they wanted, albeit unconsciously, to believe anything extra-ordinary – because “ordinary” is “not enough”, for such extraordinary creatures (be it all of us humans or only themselves). Call it superstition – you’ll do a favour to a much underused word in all the discussions about any such sordid phenomena. (Think, for instance, about otherwise, at least relatively, intelligent Mark “What the Blip Does He Know” Vicente.)
And now, think about that painfull video of Alison Mack’s first meeting with KAR: her being willingly “fuckable [as a] baby”, and him immediately attacking her love of acting as an “inability” to act in “the real world”, resulting in her immediate concession of the “crime”.
Now back to this statement: KAR is, albeit unconsciously, out of his depth – a fish out of water. And so he’s trying to ply his one-trick-pony act, while missing the context – the context being: his audience is not willing to believe him, as he has ever been used to.
“And that is really what we are talking about here.”
Lest we forget.
Not exactly “Braveheart “.
You truly have the best quips!
I must admit, Keith Raniere’s statement was much more repentant and remorseful than I had been led to believe it was by previous reporting. I was quite surprised that it did not sound arrogant, but instead, he sounded humble and contrite. I had previously only read that he showed no remorse. That wasn’t accurate reporting; makes me wonder what else could have been misrepresented.
I was surprised to see him take full accountability for the situation he is in, “I see that where I am is caused by me. I don’t blame anyone for that. This is my doing, this is all my doing that way.” I was further surprised to hear him say several times that he is sorry, or repentant, or remorseful for the hurt he has caused, even for the hurt he has caused those he believes are lying about him. He does openly claim he is not remorseful for crimes he believes he did not commit; that seems fair to me.
He also asked for forgiveness and said, “…No matter where I am, I will be forever not only different but will carry this with me.” I don’t know if he is being honest or not. Many of the things I have read show a consistent pattern of lying, but I was not present to witness it and I understand how things can be misconstrued, even by those with the best of intentions. Although the courts can judge a person’s actions on earth, I believe only God can judge a person’s heart and motive, and one day He will. In the meantime, Keith Raniere has served, and it appears he will continue to serve time in prison for his actions. While the system does its job, can we suspend hate and viciousness and instead may we hope for healing for all involved?
I am not a follower of Keith Raniere’s but I am a follower of Jesus. In Jesus there is free forgiveness; there still may be a consequence for our actions, but if one is repentant and asks for forgiveness, I believe out of love for what Jesus has done for me, I’m going to do the same for another. For those of you reading this post who are fellow Christians, at this time of Advent as we prepare our hearts for Christmas, may all of us who say we believe in Jesus Christ also follow His example in forgiving, in speaking well of others, and in speaking the truth motivated by love.
All for show. Even in his statement, he can’t help doing what he’s done his entire life—attempt to manipulate others.
Real remorse and a real apology would be reflected in action. He knew exactly what he was doing for years. If he was truly remorseful, he would’ve stopped acting like a pompous blowhard a long time ago (who holds a ten-day birthday celebration otherwise?), but as many witnesses have testified here, elsewhere, on the stand, in print or on video, etc., such behavior is a consistent, long-term pattern with him.
The only thing he’s truly remorseful of is for himself in being caught.
A very intelligent woman once said to me, “Look at what he does, not at what he says.”
That’s one of the best a
Amen, L, very well put! :star:
That reminds me of what Jesus once said about wolves in sheep’s clothing; we should not listen to their words, but look at their deeds only. FYI, here’s the context.
15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:15-20 ESV)
Yes, “By their fruits ye shall know them,” is especially fitting in the case of the NXIVM leftovers. Although they’ve been genetically modified to appear fresh, peel the layers back and rot is all you’ve got.
I agree, Heidi. Manipulation is so ugly as it blurs the lines between good and evil as the manipulator causes confusion in the minds of those who want to believe him no matter what. A confused person can be easily targeted to do (almost) everything they are being told by the manipulator. It needs courage and time for every victim concerned to awake from this delusional slumber, finally.
I need to admit that I cannot listen to KAR for a long time as his word salad makes me tired. And I believe that is EXACTLY how IT has worked for so long! If ppl got tired out from Keith’s unsubstantial sermonizing, they would stop being alert and critical. Thus he could take over their minds and ‘redirect’ them to serve him and his self alone. Alas, I have also sensed a lot of striking parallels as KAR was trying to imitate Jesus Christ or some Asian guru of sorts.
Raniere will shift what he says or does with the wind. Such is the state of one who takes his whims as his “god”. Can anyone be a keeper over him?
I know it under: By their deeds you shall know them. As far as I know, it is a saying from the Bible.
You won’t get any of the hateful atheists populating this comments section to forgive Raniere. LOL
I do, but am happy that he will be in prison for the rest of his life. LOL
Oh, for Christ’s sake, he doesn’t express remorse he takes CREDIT for being “at-cause,” for causing all this marvelous, healing pain and anger among his faithful flock of sheep and goats vying for his favor, twisting all his good, genius intentions into this silly, hysteria over his charms.
If you truly believe in God why would you condone idolatry of a mortal man to begin with? Or do you agree Keith Raniere, a child molester, is equivalent to God?
Perhaps KR’s chops conform to the lineaments of the many depictions of the one they call Jesus? For some vain-glory seekers of access to a truthier truth than the one everyone else has… a demiurge is an absolute must.
Absolutely not. And I’m not saying I condone any of this. But I do know how to forgive. Forgiveness does not mean the person is innocent or does not face the consequences of his actions.
He is spending the rest of his life in prison. Why continue with the hate? If ones hates and resents KR the rest of their life, it’s similar to them drinking Drano and hoping he gets sick.
Only victims are capable of forgiving, and it’s their choice to do so or not. People who have a bird’s eye view based on limited information—such as the statement he made in court where he was metaphorically in a fetal position and had no power to inflict the harm he once did to them—really have no say in the matter.
He tries to look like a good guy by telling the judge to not be so harsh on Allison, Clare, Nancy, or Lauren. Yet he criticizes Lauren and throws her under the bus. It is interesting he does not attack Nancy Salzman. I think Nancy is the bigger narc.
I think she knows too much/ where all their own collaterall is hidden.
There is one truth in all of this qualified faux remorse. ” I know I can’t experience as much pain as you guys”. That’s true. He cannot. He is a sociopath.
I think that’s often the hardest thing to understand. If you can feel empathy, it is hard to truly imagine and accept the sociopathic thinking of someone who can’t. No layer of humanity over the underlying lizard brain.
It’s interesting that they can understand it on a cognitive level. They can explain to you what empathy is and why it is important, but they just don’t feel it. They can believe that they do. They can simulate it. It’s actually very difficult to identify people who have a genuine lack of empathy in the general population.
‘It’s actually very difficult to identify people who have a genuine lack of empathy in the general population.’
Didn’t Nxivm develop a test for this?
Yes, they did. They also scoured MEGA Society, HIGH “Q” (slang for High IQ) sites wherein Raniere chatted up girls ISO “submissives” with High IQ’s and Aspergers Autism.
With the kind of bucks they had backing them, they left no stone unturned to fill their corporate need for real genius — or at least very high intelligence such as Dani, possibly Ivy, my sister (if I say so myself) a few of their IT recruits — possessed but, alas, none likely came close to the 240 IQ Keith espoused as his own.
And, btw, you don’t have to be a techspert or co-conspirator to do a search on Keith’s name and get lucky. FYI.
Someone here once posted an excellent video of a doctor explaining the differences among psychopaths, sociopaths and narcissists. It was very instructive. If Keith is, as I suspect, a psychopath, then he is incapable of caring about his wrongdoings or their impact.
Part of the gist of the presentation was that all psychopaths are narcissists, but not all narcissists are psychopaths. Also, it was stated that sociopaths have some limited capacity for remorse, whereas psychopaths do not.
I agree with L – examine what he DOES and not what he says, for that is meaningless. For instance, has he ever felt one twinge of guilt over his 14-year-old son who never received one dime of support from his father, basking in his millions of Bronfman money?
That’s pretty cold. And he has not lifted one finger to rectify it.
First, they came for the sociopaths.
I said nothing because I was not a sociopath.
The next day, the entire world economy collapsed.
The End
“Believing” you’re innocent is very different from being innocent. In the case of the latter, one would state simply, ” I am innocent”. But he’s not. He just believes he is. In the made-up world of Nxivm logic and it’s situational morality and bizarrely self and peer imposed punitive measures where it’s okay to withhold legal documents from a vulnerable person. Keep a young woman in a room for 2 years. Or paddle women for not responding to a text quickly enough. In that world, you can believe anything. As long as Keith tells you it’s ethical. In this world (reality), not so much. And sweet fancy Moses… This is a guy who people were dying to listen to? This guy?! In that amount of words, he could have apologized personally to every victim present. And their parents. I think I am reaching my Raniere interest level burn out. But excellent work, Frank. Keep fighting the good fight. And don’t let that d bag use you. Unless you use him back better.
^^^^ I love this post.
KR claims Allison, Clare, Nancy, and Lauren are innocent. He also claims he is innocent.
His points are all so insulting to anyone with a shred of intelligence. I mean it is child-like intelligence. I had had to force myself to finish reading his statement.
I thought it was quite entertaining and wished it was longer. LOL
” I think I am reaching my Raniere interest level burn out.”
I am contemplating the same. Main reason I’m here is because I think my personal experiences with Raniere might help his victims come to terms with what he did to them. Been through the mind warp with Raniere, and I don’t want to do the mind warp again.
I agree, it’s time to move on to Amway and other MLM scams, why keep talking about something that impacted relatively few people ad nauseum? LOL
L, your posts are very interesting and helpful for context. My continuing interest lies with where Raniere is ultimately placed, and how he productively (if that is possible) uses his time henceforth. Also whether or not Gaylen receives his long overdue child support.
Keith could use his time in prison to write. Those writings might have some forensic value to professionals who can analyze them with their bullshit meter switched to the “on” position.
I have no interest in Raniere as an individual, whatsoever. He’s just an expression of a particular kind of human dysfunction that is of interest to me.
He is just a case study for others of his kind.
In many areas of life, belief is worthless. In some cases, an actual detriment. It’s very easy to pander to belief and engender self-serving belief. Many millions have died because of someone’s beliefs. Not so many because of evidence-based facts.
The NXIVM people believe that the trial was flawed because the evidence was irrelevant to them. Their idea of what was to be decided was whether Raniere was ‘good’ or ‘bad’.
They BELIEVE that he is ‘good’ and that means he is innocent. This is displayed in the weird letters they wrote to the judge, which completely bypassed the issue of his crimes, and focused on his ‘goodness’.
You really get it. On all levels. Impressive. Well done, Paul.
What else can Keith say except this?
He’s been found guilty.
He doesn’t think he is (or he’s just lying about not being guilty).
Someone who caused such immense pain that engendered over 100 victim statements with 14 of them speaking powerful statements in court doesn’t sound like an innocent person (to anyone outside of his controlled cult environment).
Therefore, they must be lying.
But he has to show some kind of remorse without showing remorse for crimes done, so he takes it upon himself to “suffer” (real or pretend it doesn’t matter though it’s likely the latter) for all the pain he’s caused, even though everyone is lying about the things he did.
“I’m innocent, you’re all liars, but I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused.”
That’s essentially his statement.
It’s really pathetic. He’s been humiliated and he only humiliates himself even more.
Word salad…all of it. He’s trying to pull Jedi mind tricks and it’s an absolute failure. KR will always be remembered not as a saint but as a pedophile.
Well said. He’s talking out of both sides of his mouth, and not articulately, because how can you clearly communicate something when it comes from a disingenuous place..
“I know I can’t experience as much pain as you guys, the people who I’ve hurt or who are angered, and even if you’re lying, it doesn’t matter. But I’ve caused that and I do carry that.
And I am repentant and I am remorseful over that.”
Good Grief! Does he really believe that he is Christ-like and carries the sins of the sinners?
Give me a break!
Everyone’s lying. Well, it worked in 2003 and 2012, so why not now?
This is an important point – he always got away with just feeding BS to everyone – so why not now – the truest miscarriage of justice in this whole situation is the thousands of crimes committed that were not involved in any of the convictions. Each time he directs someone to be instructed to seduce him – that should be a count of sex trafficking – every one of his slaves was directed to have sex with him & to actively try to get their own slaves to have sex with him – following his instruction – he is so cruel that he did not care & still does not care (even though he tries to be a martyr in asking for blame to be placed with him, not his co-felons) that he made criminals out of his most adoring followers – or that he was robbing generations of families of their next generation by making so many women commit solely to him and forcing abortions – he proved only his continued delusional thinking & that he would change nothing if he was again unleashed on society
Enthusiastically agree, Dec. 8 @12:00 pm
Hmm! Raniere is a Con artist per excellence. His well-rehearsed speech is full of contradictions, braggadocio and insolent hubris. This man’s soul is warped beyond belief. What impudence!
My impression is he absolutely meant well and he loves women sincerely and we are missing Nancy Salzmann’s role as siren. 😉 Who do you think Keith gave his collateral to? 😉
He loves women!!! No. Raniere doesn’t love women. He exploits women. He is a ruthless predator. He is a misogynist. If his crude and callous treatment of women qualifies to be called “Love,” then the definition of love has been greatly broadened and nobody told me about it.
@Ayo
Looking at my comment in the cold light of morning, I think I might have been getting a little carried away there. I also have no freaking idea why I called Nancy a siren.
I think Keith loved women more than anyone ever did. He was the only one who wanted them raised up and not infantilized.
He wants them strong.
What his conviction means is women failed. They did not live up to his high standards and, typical of our gender, we attacked him.
He is the greatest cruelest victim of women who ever lived
And funny too. He was trying to raise all women.
@Janice, an adult woman
—I think Keith loved women more than anyone ever did. He was the only one who wanted them raised up and not infantilized. He wants them strong.
I think that’s a valid point of view. (not being snarky)
–I think Keith loved women more than anyone ever did. He was the only one who wanted them raised up and not infantilized.
Don’t make us laugh.
A man who can have sex with as many women as he wants while requiring of women who are with him that they can only be with him as a man is a piss poor definition of love and of high standards.
Yes. Raniere clings to his delusionary “highness” over all others as if it were his only ratty mink jacket. His life is completely tattered, grotesque and full of his very own vermin, yet his need to maintain his sense of superiority over all others seems to be all that he has left, out of his lifetime of vicious harmfulness and utter selfishness, disguised as “good will.”
He sounds incredibly weak and pathetic here to me. His mealy-mouthed attempts at cleverness are utter garbage, and from what he says, he is not authentically sorry for anything. He is insulting the intelligence if anyone who sees his actions as either criminal or even reprehensible. (Nobody UNDERSTANDS his assholian “superiority and/or his “spiritual advancement.”
In my observation, Raniere is incapable of any authentic accountability, never mind any remorsefulness. He will only briefly pay the piper when hus back is up against the wall, like a real coward without principles of his own, conscienceless. He drools out a dad imitation if regretfulness, yet wantsneveryone to know that he has been misunderstood, misrepresented.
His cheap, disorganized and miserable imitations of having any real remorse for his years of dictatorship and for his vengeful, puntitive actions against others is phony, empty of genuine feeling.
Raniere was simply lying again (in court, but why would he care about that?) and trying to use words as a shield against what has really been true. He WANTED to harm others, he has done so and now he has continued to choose to justify his behavior and actions.
Raniere is trapped repeating his ramshackle mess of a “philosophy” as if it had any chance of being a reality at all. He is incurably shipwrecked, circling the drain like lint. He is lint. Goody for him.
But then Raniere has never changed. It appears that he got lost in his fog at approximately aged seven or eight. So he had a log, nauseating run as a nitter and ugly frigging demon.
Cumgratulations to the Raniere pipsqueak, a false “guru” of utter shit. Now let him meet justice. Perpetually. Round and round he will go, until mother nature shuts his pie-hole for once…and for all.
About one aspect, Raniere could be correctly incorrect, as usual. For as he insists upon remainining, as he insists upon perceiving himself so impeccably and so blandly and grandiosely, there IS nothing in him to redeem. He is a rotten apple, and his rot is contagious, to anyone who is vulnerable, Raniere would still be diabolical as any kind of an influence. He just cannot see himself with any degree of realism.
Gahhh! The typing is awful. I apologize and will seek out some excellent Cuban coffee, pronto.
Typing be damned – no apologies necessary; that was beautiful. Sorry, no Cuban available here, but I’m gonna go make some Turkish coffee in your honor, Shivani.
Dazzling truths made keener by blustery orthography!
I wonder if Beverage Allison would care to rebut Shivani’s lyrical thoughts?
I worship Shivani’s lyrical thoughts even when they differ in opinion from mine, but yeah, maybe I’ll try to channel something tomorrow.
Note from Alison: The majority of this text was not actually written by me, but by my spirit guide, Mindy. I’ll just jump into it:
In need of a sacred object, I retrieved a half-deflated volleyball from the garage, held it reverently in my hands, closed my eyes, and surrendered myself as an ultimate tool of the universe in a quest to find the truth/write a rebuttal as requested by a reader here on FR.
When I started my meditation, I only saw blackness in my mind’s eye. but then Lo a sliver of blue light sparkled in the dark, which then expanded into a luminous column of swirling blue. Woah! Could this be it? That famed blue light? Prolly – at the very bottom of that column, I saw the silhouette of a tired-but-resolute-looking young man. (You can’t deny Keith looks young for his age)
As I centered my gaze, it soon became clear that the column of light was actually the insides of a deep, dark well. It wasn’t easy for me to wrench my gaze from the entrancing blue light, but I, Mindy, prodded my mind’s eye to travel up above the image of the man, up up up through the long, -impressively long, actually- shaft to arrive at the surface.
At the top, there was a man astride a horse. He appeared to be wearing a judge’s robe. To my surprise, he looked straight at me. How could he see me? I don’t know but he pointed his finger at me like a gun, smiled, winked and said quickly “fuck you very much” Or did he say “thank you?” I couldn’t be sure. He reared up his horse triumphantly, trampling up a giant cloud of dust before he dashed away, the dust majorly fu@king up my psychic vision.
The cloud started to settle but then build up again. I could hear the sound of distant hooves upon the earth, getting closer and closer until the sound was nearly deafening. It was hard to see who the riders were, but they seemed to be shouting something about sociopaths narcissists unpaid child support snuff films so on and so forth. It was starting to get scary in there. And the man in the well had no chance of ever being heard above the din from deep down where he’d been thrown.
One of the riders saw me looking toward them and said, “Hey! Move it along! There’s nothing to see here!” as if on cue, the horses stomped more ferociously to kick up even more dust.
Choking on the dust and gasping for air, I thought, “they’ve got a point, what the hell should I care what happens to a narcissist sociopath bad guy?”
But then I heard the notes of a long-forgotten song– “All Cried Out” by Lisa Lisa & the Cult Jam. That is how it was suddenly revealed to me, Mindy, that sociopaths aren’t monsters, they are just human beings, imperfect as we all are, humans who are all cried out from trauma and pain in their formative years.
Then it was shown to me, and this was very difficult for me (Mindy) to watch without joining in, that narcissists differ some sociopaths in one major way: they are almost invariably great in bed. Their theme song is “Let Me Blow Ya Mind,” by Eve, which those dastardly narcs nearly always try to do as quickly as possible after they meet you.
Note from Alison: Right about here Mindy left my consciousness before I could learn any real lesson from it all. It was just me and the volleyball, in the hot tub alone.
I was revisiting this blog post, and I still can’t believe that everyone was reading the same sentencing statement that I read. it seriously blows my mind. I might put some time into writing a more detailed rebuttal to stuff because it is making me angry. And you won’t like me when I’m angry. Or maybe you will. 😉