NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere appeals his sex trafficking conviction claiming his lawyers didn't get enough time to question witnesses while Seagram's heiress Clare Bronfman says she was given 'harsh' six year sentence because she is rich
Attorneys for Raniere and Bronfman appeared in court in New York on Tuesday
Raniere's lawyer argued that they were not allowed to question witness Lauren Salzman as thoroughly as they'd have liked
He said it breached his rights to a fair trial and that he should get a new one
The judges have not yet made a decision on his appeal
Bronfman's attorneys said her six-year sentence was too harsh compared with others in the case
They argued that she was made an example of because she is the heiress to the Seagram's beverage company fortune
By JENNIFER SMITH, CHIEF REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 21:51 BST, 3 May 2022
NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere on Tuesday tried to appeal his conviction, claiming through his lawyers that he didn't get a fair shake in court because they weren't given enough time to cross-examine witnesses.
Heiress Clare Bronfman - who was also convicted for her role in the sex cult - also appealed her six year sentencing, claiming she was made an example of because she is so rich. Raniere was convicted of sex trafficking in January 2019 and was sentenced to 120 years in prison in October 2020.
- Knipsel.JPG (48.67 KiB) 64 keer bekeken
'The intent was crucial to this case,' Raniere's attorney argued.
The judges reserved a decision pending review. It's unclear when they will return to court.
In the same hearing, attorneys for Bronfman argued that she was given too harsh a sentence because of her wealth and privilege.
- Knipsel.JPG (28.89 KiB) 64 keer bekeken
Bronfman and Raniere were among those convicted of orchestrating and facilitating the cult, which drew in Hollywood actresses among victims under the guise of giving them a self-help course.
Victims told prosecutors how they were starved, sleep-deprived and even brandished with a scalding metal symbol as part of the cult.
Raniere has always denied wrongdoing.
At trial, prosecutors told how he had impregnated three sisters, all of whom he then forced to get abortions.
At his appeal hearing on Tuesday, his attorneys said the abortions were irrelevant to the case and designed to prejudice a jury.
Bronfman was convicted of racketeering, specifically with a conspiracy to conceal and harbor people who were not in the US legally for financial gain.
She was sentenced to nearly seven years in prison - a harsher sentence than some others who were found guilty.
Her attorney said in court that she was made an example of because of her wealth.
Bronfman is an heiress to the Seagram's liquor and beverages empire.