5.Defendant's Allocution — Keith Raniere

KEITH RANIERE: 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, with respect to Allison, with respect to Nancy 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 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.