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NXIVM— Case Archive
2019 Federal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayMark LeskoMark VicentedirectDay 4 - May 13, 2019Mark Vicente continued direct testimony about Raniere's authority, SOP practices, and concerns he raised within NXIVM. The court limited how jurors could use certain statements he reported. Raw photo-session videos were admitted, and Vicente described internal criticisms alongside his continued loyalty to Raniere.
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Day 4 - May 13, 2019

Vicente Testifies on NXIVM Leadership and Internal Concerns; Court Sets Statement Limits

Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis
5Proceedings
3Pages
1Witnesses
1,581Lines
4Sidebars
Day 4 of 29
Appearing:
Mark Lesko Mark Vicente

Mark Vicente continued direct testimony about Raniere's authority, SOP practices, and concerns he raised within NXIVM. The court limited how jurors could use certain statements he reported. Raw photo-session videos were admitted, and Vicente described internal criticisms alongside his continued loyalty to Raniere.

Full day summary

Mark Vicente continued direct examination about NXIVM's leadership, SOP programs, and concerns he raised within the organization. The court admitted his government agreement, which he understood to protect his statements from prosecution unless he lied. He placed Keith Raniere above Nancy Salzman and the executive board, with ultimate authority over policy and advancement. Vicente described SOP's monetary collateral and SOP Complete's physical consequences, teasing, costumes, and sexualized nicknames. He attributed the program's design to Raniere and acknowledged helping implement it. He expressed shame about his participation and described his changed assessment of its effects on women as his observations and beliefs. He also recalled questioning Raniere about Allison Mack's weight and appearance, attributing to him a statement that he was trying to break her. Outside the jury's presence, counsel disputed how jurors could use statements Vicente attributed to others. The defense contested the prosecution's coconspirator characterization. The court directed prosecutors to flag statements by people they did not allege were coconspirators so individualized limiting instructions could be given. When testimony resumed, jurors were instructed to consider Debra's statements only for their effect on Vicente, not their truth. The court also authorized jury-only publication of proposed nude photographs with sensitive portions obscured; defense counsel had not yet reviewed the pixelated versions. Six raw videos from a 2012 executive-library photo session were admitted and played. Vicente described staged calls and poses used to create images of Raniere. He recounted January 2016 letters criticizing members' treatment, devotion to Raniere, and fear of senior ranks, while acknowledging that his loyalty persisted. He later described concerns about Jness X and conflicting accounts from Raniere and Nancy Salzman about its curriculum. The court struck his explanation of why he understood his wife had left NXIVM. Trial adjourned until May 14 at 9:30 a.m.

1. Mark Vicente — Direct (Part 4)

Mark Vicente continued direct examination on Day 4, discussing his government agreement, Raniere’s authority, NXIVM’s internal practices, his participation in SOP Complete, and concerns about Allison Mack.

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sidebar
Sidebar Without Transcribed Dialogue
2 lines

The reporter noted a sidebar continuing on the next page, with no conference dialogue transcribed.

Procedural
Appearances and Return of Mark Vicente to the Stand
7 lines
Direct
Mark Vicente — Direct Mark Vicente Mark Lesko
945 lines

Mark Vicente described Raniere's authority, loyalty-based advancement, SOP financial consequences, and SOP Complete's treatment of women. He expressed shame about his participation and recalled concerns about Allison Mack and India. The court admitted his government agreement and confirmed a continuing defense objection concerning name usage.

2 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Vicente’s Request to Supplement His TestimonyVicente raised an omission related to earlier questions, and counsel confirmed agreement on a replacement list correcting and adding names.
  2. Debra’s Identity and Continuing Defense ObjectionCounsel clarified Debra Giannone's identity, with Lesko citing potential embarrassment from surname disclosure and Agnifilo reiterating a continuing objection.

Highlights

Mark Vicente — Directtestimony highlightVicente placed Raniere above Nancy Salzman and the executive board and said the board could recommend, but not independently make, policy changes.Mark Vicente — Direct“See, part of what you did in this kind of structure is you protect the leader at all costs, so we had to make sure that they understood that it wasn't him. We agreed to protect him at all costs and it was us, we were the problem.”— Mark VicenteVicente described accepting blame after Raniere withdrew from an SOP training.Mark Vicente — Directtestimony highlightVicente described SOP Complete's boot-camp format, physical consequences, teasing, costumes, and sexualized nicknames. He attributed the program's design to Raniere and acknowledged helping implement it.Mark Vicente — Directtestimony highlightVicente recalled confronting Raniere about Allison Mack's weight and appearance. He attributed to Raniere a statement that he was trying to break her and said he left without clear answers.

2. Hearing on DOS Statements and Limiting Instructions

Outside the jury’s presence, the court addressed limits on jurors’ use of DOS statements reported by Mr. Vicente and authorized jury-only display of obscured nude photographs.

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Procedural
Hearing on DOS Statements and Limiting Instructions
131 lines

The court required individualized limiting instructions for certain DOS statements, authorized jury-only photograph publication, and set a response deadline on a separate motion.

Highlights

Hearing on DOS Statements and Limiting InstructionsrulingAfter reviewing the instruction's wording, the court directed the prosecution to identify questions involving people it did not allege were coconspirators so the court could give an individualized instruction, starting with Debra.

3. Mark Vicente — Direct (Part 5)

Mark Vicente continued direct examination about concerns surrounding Raniere, NXIVM’s internal practices, and his loyalty after his wife’s departure. Photo-session videos were admitted, and Day 4 ended with direct examination unfinished.

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Direct
Mark Vicente — Direct (Continued) Mark Vicente Mark Lesko
496 lines

Mark Vicente described internal criticism, continued loyalty to Raniere, and growing concerns about NXIVM and a secret society. Six library videos were admitted; the court limited Debra's statements and struck testimony about why Vicente's wife left.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Objection to Vicente’s Cabin TestimonyDefense counsel challenged proposed testimony about Vicente seeing Raniere in bed with a woman as irrelevant and prejudicial, while the government argued it explained his developing understanding of DOS.

Highlights

Mark Vicente — Direct (Continued)evidence eventSix raw video segments from the executive-library photo session were admitted without defense objection.Mark Vicente — Direct (Continued)testimony highlightVicente described his January 2016 letters criticizing treatment of members, devotion to Raniere, and fear of senior ranks; he said the concerns were largely ignored.Mark Vicente — Direct (Continued)“So in essence in my mind, I held him as blameless for anything that was going on, and my sense of loyalty was still very, very strong.”— Mark VicenteAcknowledges Vicente's continued loyalty to Raniere despite his concerns and his wife's departure.Mark Vicente — Direct (Continued)testimony highlightVicente described ending a Jness X mentor-group discussion, confronting Lauren Salzman about a suspected secret ranking system and women's health, and hearing conflicting descriptions from Raniere and Nancy Salzman about whether the curriculum was old or new.
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