Michael Weniger

FBI Special Agent Michael Weniger testified for the prosecution on Day 23 and Day 24 as a case agent, connecting recovered documents, correspondence, financial records, and photographs to the investigation of Raniere. His direct examination addressed banking searches aimed at critics, evidence of reimbursed campaign donations, and DOS communications concerning collateral, India, and Nicole. He believed most or all of Canaprobe's purported banking information was false, while qualifying that assessment. He nevertheless interpreted the documents as showing that participants sought genuine banking information and appeared to believe the reports.

Weniger also explained how medical records and scar comparisons led him to conclude that Camila's Studies photographs predated her January 9, 2007 appendectomy, performed when she was 16. The court permitted redacted comparison photographs to be shown to jurors. Other testimony addressed visa-related funding, Raniere's recorded 2.26 GPA and academic dismissal, and investigators' understanding that Raniere originated NXIVM curriculum through recorded presentations to Nancy Salzman and others.

On cross-examination, Marc Agnifilo tested the reliability of investigative reports, ownership of recovered documents, and the distinction between travel-related financial records and official crossing records. Weniger would not attribute most or all of a recovered document box to Kristin Keeffe or identify the author of handwritten notes. He acknowledged that not all civil litigation was frivolous, understood the lawsuit against Yuri Plyam to have succeeded, and knew of nothing improper about the $525,000 gift to Marianna. The court struck his broader answer about convictions of people targeted by NXIVM.

On redirect, Weniger said correspondence appeared to show Keeffe passing Canaprobe information to Raniere and described Raniere as the person approached for permission. He said communications concerning banking-search targets continued after Keeffe left, but acknowledged having no evidence of the alleged conspiracy connecting DOS critics with earlier defectors. During recross, he could not confirm how long a paternity petition had been pending; after Penza intervened, the court directed counsel to move on.