In this April 13, 2018, courtroom sketch, Keith Raniere, second from right, attends a court hearing in the Brooklyn borough of New York.Jury selection is set to begin Monday for a trial expected to detail sensational allegations that a cult-like group based in upstate New York recruited sex slaves for its spiritual leader.
Court papers allege the purported self-help group called NXIVM formed a secret society of women who were branded with Raniere’s initials and forced to have sex with him. The four defendants have pleaded not guilty to conspiracy and other charges. Defence attorneys have insisted any relationship between Raniere and the alleged victims, including an unidentified actress and other women expected to testify against him at trial, was consensual.
Lauren Salzman entered her plea at a hearing that did not appear on any public calendar, and prosecutors had portions of a transcript blacked out. That’s led to speculation she may co-operate against alleged cult members at trial.