S&S reported a few weeks ago on the HBO mini series “The Vow”, based on the defecting of a few members of the now defunct NXIVM cult based in Albany, NY.
The leader and main antagonist of the series, Keith Raniere, was sentenced to 120 years in prison yesterday for charges of sex-trafficking, racketeering, child pornography, and forced labor.
Brooklyn federal court Judge Nicholas Garaufis ha this to say about Raniere, “To him, the brave victims … are liars. Mr. Raniere remains unmoved. … [He] has therefore failed to demonstrate remorse,” instead maintaining “to this day that he’s done nothing wrong,”
This was evident with DOS, a group within NXIVM. As the co-leader of DOS, Alison Mack, former actress and “slave” to Raniere, had lured women into programs under the pretense of female empowerment and self-help workshops, eventually convincing them to sign up for more “advanced programs” within the cult. DOS required these women to turn their lives over to cult, provide collateral, such as nude photo’s or deeds to their assets, while becoming a “slave” to one master in the group. DOS, i.e. Dominus Obsequious Sororium, translates to “Master Over the Slave Women”. Perhaps most horrific was the fact that each “slave” was branded with Raniere’s and Mack’s initials.
If one of the DOS members threatened to speak out or defect, Raniere/Mack could use the blackmail they procured to keep them quiet.
If anyone is interested in learning more about the rise and eventual collapse of NXIVM, HBO’s “The Vow” is a great miniseries about the group and its destructive practices.