Is NXIVM a religion (or just a cult?)

[Chocolatedefrauded]

I guess the verdict answers the question definitely- it is/was a cult. The Post and other papers are calling it a sex cult....I bet that bugs old Vanguard! He can stew about it in prison...

[AuntKrazy]

Not sure if anyone else out there is still following this, but there is now also a lawsuit about it being a pyramid scheme:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/29/nyregion/nxivm-lawsuit-keith-raniere.html

I have long thought that there is something about patriarchal cults that lends itself to MLM/pyramid scheme behavior as well. . . 

 

[Howl]

Clare Bronfman is going to the gray-bar hotel; the judge sentenced her to longer than the sentencing guideline. 

Heiress sentenced to nearly seven years in Nxivm case, more than recommended sentence

[FiveAcres]

54 minutes ago, Howl said:

Clare Bronfman is going to the gray-bar hotel; the judge sentenced her to longer than the sentencing guideline. 

Heiress sentenced to nearly seven years in Nxivm case, more than recommended sentence

I read the article and she doesn't sound contrite or remorseful at all. 

[Chocolatedefrauded]

I’m not sure if this was mentioned before but Raniere told his followers, from behind bars, to try to find “leverage” on the judge overseeing his trial. Sounds like threats, blackmail, or coercion was the plan. These are people who may have framed a man for child porn by getting into his computer!

interestingly, he was caught running a pyramid scheme years before this. I think the state Attorney General fined him. He lost the business, maybe went bankrupt.

[keen23]

Is anyone watching Season Two of The Vow on HBO? Keith comes off even more creepy than in the first season. Nancy Salzman is just awful. Like she was completely clueless (or pretends to be) about what was going on under her nose.

[AuntKrazy]

I'm watching.  And I agree wholeheartedly!  It seems like Michele Salzmann escaped.  I wonder what she tried to tell Nancy & Lauren.

I've been reading the public court transcripts of the trial along with season 2, and listening to Mark Vicente's podcast debrief after each episode.

What I want to know about now is the money.  Over $500K cash was hidden in a couple of shoeboxes in Nancy's home.  Where did it come from? What was it for?  Is there more squirrelled away by loyalists?

[Anne Of Gray Gables]

3 hours ago, keen23 said:

Is anyone watching Season Two of The Vow on HBO? Keith comes off even more creepy than in the first season. Nancy Salzman is just awful. Like she was completely clueless (or pretends to be) about what was going on under her nose.

Nancy Salzman is disgusting. Poor little me, I had no idea what was going on, I can't believe Keith destroyed MY business.  Um, yeah, you were called friggin' PREFECT, Nancy. You and Keith ran the show.

 

[keen23]

Episode 4- Nancy not knowing why Keith didn't like her daughter Michelle. Only to find out that it was because Michelle wouldn't sleep with Keith. Vomit.

[QuittersTry]

2 hours ago, keen23 said:

Episode 4- Nancy not knowing why Keith didn't like her daughter Michelle. Only to find out that it was because Michelle wouldn't sleep with Keith. Vomit.

I'm watching... it's total barf! Can't believe that cheesy hack got in everyone's heads like that! The poor girl whose touretts got better but had to discontinue meds for anxiety and depression...straight up criminal! And the dip sh*ts recorded it all...WTF!