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NXIVM— Case Archive
2019 Federal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayMoira Kim PenzaNicoledirectDay 19 - June 7, 2019Nicole continued her testimony about a blindfolded sexual encounter, Raniere's role in DOS, and requirements she understood to be enforced by collateral. She also described unpaid work, branding, and her departure.
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Day 19 - June 7, 2019

Nicole Testifies About Sexual Encounter, DOS Requirements, and Departure

Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis
4Proceedings
1Pages
1Witnesses
1,882Lines
2Sidebars
Day 19 of 29
Appearing:
Moira Kim Penza Nicole

Nicole continued her testimony about a blindfolded sexual encounter, Raniere's role in DOS, and requirements she understood to be enforced by collateral. She also described unpaid work, branding, and her departure.

Full day summary

Nicole continued her direct examination, describing Allison Mack's assignment to promise to do anything Keith Raniere asked. She testified that Raniere then blindfolded her, drove her to an unknown location, and tied her to a table while another person performed oral sex and he questioned her. After reviewing a document, she dated the encounter to May 31, 2016. She said she did not believe she could object. Nicole said Raniere later disclosed that he created The Vow and was Mack's master and her grandmaster. She described subsequent sexual encounters and requests to end the sexual aspect of their relationship, while acknowledging periods when she tried to make the relationship work and sent kind messages. She testified that she understood DOS as a lifetime commitment enforced by collateral. She described readiness drills, collective punishments, calorie restrictions, required naked photographs, and monthly collateral. She said she performed article reviews and memorial transcription without pay because Mack required the work as part of DOS. Nicole also recounted being branded, initially understanding the symbol to represent the elements and later learning it represented Keith's initials. Nicole said other departures, Mack's assurance that her collateral would not be released, and a Frank Report article helped her decide to leave. She described arranging safety precautions for a final visit and said Raniere demanded repayment of $10,000 because she was ending their lifetime partnership.

1. Nicole — Direct (Part 2)

Nicole continued her direct testimony, describing a blindfolded sexual encounter, Raniere's role in DOS, requirements enforced through collateral, and her eventual departure.

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Procedural
Appearances and Resumption of Nicole's Testimony
17 lines
Direct
Nicole — Direct Nicole Moira Kim Penza
1824 lines

Nicole described sexual encounters she linked to DOS obedience and collateral, required photographs, unpaid work, branding, and her eventual departure. Emails and other records were admitted, and the court addressed objections to secondhand statements.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. India's Statement and Co-Conspirator StatusThe defense objected to identifying co-conspirators before the jury, while the Government argued that India's statement was admissible as a co-conspirator statement.
sidebar
Sidebar Sealed by Court Order
1 lines

The reporter noted that the sidebar was sealed by court order; no dialogue was transcribed.

Procedural
Witness Excusal, Scheduling and Adjournment
40 lines

Highlights

Nicole — Directtestimony highlightNicole described Raniere blindfolding her, driving her to an unknown location, and tying her to a table. She said another person performed oral sex while Raniere questioned her, and that she did not believe she had an option to object.Nicole — Directtestimony highlightNicole testified that Raniere disclosed that he created The Vow and was Allison's master and her grandmaster. She recalled him later saying he could have commanded her to have sex.Nicole — Direct“Well, that was what I -- like argued about most, was that, like, this was supposed to be a women's empowerment organization, how is it empowering to make us take off our clothes and send photos to a man, and I would just ask Allison, like explain to me how that is empowering, because to me it feels completely degrading.”— NicoleContrasts the organization's stated purpose with Nicole's experience of the required photographs.Nicole — Directtestimony highlightNicole explained that monthly collateral felt compulsory because she believed disobedience would cause release of her original collateral.Nicole — Directtestimony highlightNicole described the branding ceremony, its required declarations, and the pain she endured while thinking about her family. She said she initially understood the symbol to represent the elements but later learned it represented Keith's initials.Nicole — Directtestimony highlightNicole described arranging safety precautions for her departure visit, enduring a two-hour meeting about leaving, and later meeting Raniere. She said he demanded return of the $10,000 because she was ending their lifetime partnership.
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