Day 7 - May 16, 2019

Mark Vicente completed his testimony after further questioning about his former beliefs, FBI contacts, filmmaking, and understanding of DOS. He acknowledged relying on others for information about DOS because he had not belonged to it, and qualified several recollections. The court limited others' statements to their effect on him and restricted further questioning about conversations with Kristin Keeffe. Outside the jury's presence, it excluded Tourette's cure claims from his cross-examination while allowing questions about filming tactics and leaving the defense free to pursue health claims in its own case. On redirect, Vicente said his contacts with Sarah concerned gathering clear details for the FBI. He described pressure surrounding obedience to Raniere and offered his present interpretation that NXIVM programs supplied recruitment opportunities and techniques for DOS. He also discussed removing material from intensive tapes in connection with litigation. On recross, he agreed that Exhibit 1397 itself referred to duplication, not editing or modification. Stephen Herbits testified about efforts to assist Sarah and Clare Bronfman with NXIVM's reputation and disputes. He said he refused requests to approach prosecutors and the Albany Times Union publisher, recommending public relations work instead. Six email exhibits were admitted, including Clare's discussions of possible criminal charges against Rick Ross and invoking political clout. Herbits denied conveying Edgar Bronfman's property instructions to Frank Parlato. Under defense questioning, he qualified his recollections, said he had never met Raniere, and acknowledged that he did not know Clare's motives for visiting her father. Investigator Charles Fontanelli reviewed maps, property records, email search-warrant returns, and photographs from the search of Nancy Salzman's home. He displayed a laptop marked for identification and linked seven admitted documents to it. He also identified an admitted box of labeled files, noting that his examination had been cursory. The court later established a sidebar procedure for potentially privileged questions during Lauren Salzman's anticipated testimony and deferred clarification of NXIVM's asserted privilege.