International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation■ Vol. 2, 2021 49
A. Rules and Regulations
Most group members who were not a part of
the “inner circle”22 living in close proximity
to Raniere were not subject to scrutiny of
their interpersonal relationships. Those
members closest to Raniere, however,
experienced rules constitutive of grooming
and that contributed to explicit control
measures.
Early in her NXIVM career, Sarah
Edmondson—who would become the
group’s top recruiter—realized that most of
the high-ranking, inner-circle female
members were single (Edmondson, 2019, pp.
100–101). Raniere had ensured that each of
these women remained in relationships with
him only thus, they didn’t develop
conflicting loyalties from having long-term
intimate partners and children who would
consume their time and also their physical
and emotional energy. 23 Conversely, as is
often the case with cult leaders (Lalich, 1997,
p. 11), Raniere engaged in multiple sexual
relationships (Oxenberg &Stoynoff, 2019,
p. 165 Natalie &Hardin, 2019, p. 149 see
also United States of America v. Raniere,
2019, pp. 2094, 2447–2448).
Raniere enforced many other regulations. He
insisted that women refrain from any form of
modification to their pubic hair (United
States of America v. Raniere, 2019, pp. 1537
22 The “inner circle” who lived in close proximity to Raniere were
known by the extent of their “loyalty,” and “commitment” to him
(United States of America v. Raniere, 2019, p. 1571). Clare
Bronfman, Lauren Salzman, Nancy Salzman, Pam Carfritz, Barbara
Jeske, Barbara Bouchey, Karen Unterreiner, Allison Mack, Nicki
Clyne, Dawn Morrison, Kristin Keeffe, Kathy Russell, Daniela,
Marianna, Camila, Loreta Garza, Monica Duran, Ivy Navares, Jim
del Negro, Mark Vicente, Emiliano Salinas, Rosa Laura Junco, Alex
Betancourt, and Jack Levy all were a part of this ‘elite’ group
(United States of America v. Raniere, 2019, pp. 1564-1570). He had
sexual relationships with all of the women (United States of
America v. Raniere, 2019, pp. 1572, 2447–24478)
23 For example, Lauren Salzman explained to the court Raniere’s
requirement that she remain committed to him only—even when he
put their relationship on “hold.” She knew he was sexually intimate
with other people and when she conveyed her desire to establish a
relationship with someone else, he threatened to remove his promise
that one day they would have a child together—something that
2377), and he frequently berated the inner-
circle women if they ate “too much” or
gained any weight (2019, pp. 133, 2379–
2380). As part of the grooming process, he
explicitly indicated his preference for thin
women consequently, many of the women
adopted highly restrictive diets and numerous
food controls (Berman, 2018 Edmondson &
Gasbarre, 2019, pp. 9, 65, 75, 99 Oxenberg
&Stoynoff, 2019, pp. 128, 198 United States
of America v. Raniere, 2019, pp. 133–136
1530–1531 2462). 24 In some cases, he
required that women lose weight before he
would have sex with them (United States of
America v. Raniere, 2019, pp. 2379–2380).
His humiliating comments and frequent
admonishments ensured that many of the
women closely regulated their food, thus
complying to his sexual preference for thin,
calorie-deficient women whom he could
control and groom more easily.25
Raniere established other rules and
regulations pertaining to sex. Proclaiming
that sex with him was a form of “energy
exchange,” and that his semen bound his
sexual partners together, Raniere refused to
wear condoms (Natalie &Hardin, 2019, p.
149). Hence, many women who became
pregnant by him were told to have abortions
(Natalie &Hardin, 2019, p. 150 United
States of America v. Raniere, 2019, 2631 see
Salzman badly desired (United States of America v. Raniere, 2019,
pp. 1552 1526-1528). Moreover, Raniere punished her when he
perceived her to have violated his rule, labelling her as disrespectful
and unworthy of having his child (United States of America v.
Raniere, 2019, pp. 1546–1553).
24 Throughout her memoir, Catherine Oxenberg (Oxenberg &
Stoynoff, 2019) discusses her daughter India’s weight loss. As
Raniere effected greater control over India and her commitment to
him grew, she became dangerously thin, experiencing numerous
detrimental health outcomes.
25 The effects of extreme levels of calorie restriction include physical
and mental deficits. After talking to a nutritionist, journalist, Sarah
Berman (2018) followed a NXIVM style diet of 800 calories per day
for seven days. She reported her experiences in Vice. For a discussion
and analysis of food restrictions in cults, see Meikle (2005).
A. Rules and Regulations
Most group members who were not a part of
the “inner circle”22 living in close proximity
to Raniere were not subject to scrutiny of
their interpersonal relationships. Those
members closest to Raniere, however,
experienced rules constitutive of grooming
and that contributed to explicit control
measures.
Early in her NXIVM career, Sarah
Edmondson—who would become the
group’s top recruiter—realized that most of
the high-ranking, inner-circle female
members were single (Edmondson, 2019, pp.
100–101). Raniere had ensured that each of
these women remained in relationships with
him only thus, they didn’t develop
conflicting loyalties from having long-term
intimate partners and children who would
consume their time and also their physical
and emotional energy. 23 Conversely, as is
often the case with cult leaders (Lalich, 1997,
p. 11), Raniere engaged in multiple sexual
relationships (Oxenberg &Stoynoff, 2019,
p. 165 Natalie &Hardin, 2019, p. 149 see
also United States of America v. Raniere,
2019, pp. 2094, 2447–2448).
Raniere enforced many other regulations. He
insisted that women refrain from any form of
modification to their pubic hair (United
States of America v. Raniere, 2019, pp. 1537
22 The “inner circle” who lived in close proximity to Raniere were
known by the extent of their “loyalty,” and “commitment” to him
(United States of America v. Raniere, 2019, p. 1571). Clare
Bronfman, Lauren Salzman, Nancy Salzman, Pam Carfritz, Barbara
Jeske, Barbara Bouchey, Karen Unterreiner, Allison Mack, Nicki
Clyne, Dawn Morrison, Kristin Keeffe, Kathy Russell, Daniela,
Marianna, Camila, Loreta Garza, Monica Duran, Ivy Navares, Jim
del Negro, Mark Vicente, Emiliano Salinas, Rosa Laura Junco, Alex
Betancourt, and Jack Levy all were a part of this ‘elite’ group
(United States of America v. Raniere, 2019, pp. 1564-1570). He had
sexual relationships with all of the women (United States of
America v. Raniere, 2019, pp. 1572, 2447–24478)
23 For example, Lauren Salzman explained to the court Raniere’s
requirement that she remain committed to him only—even when he
put their relationship on “hold.” She knew he was sexually intimate
with other people and when she conveyed her desire to establish a
relationship with someone else, he threatened to remove his promise
that one day they would have a child together—something that
2377), and he frequently berated the inner-
circle women if they ate “too much” or
gained any weight (2019, pp. 133, 2379–
2380). As part of the grooming process, he
explicitly indicated his preference for thin
women consequently, many of the women
adopted highly restrictive diets and numerous
food controls (Berman, 2018 Edmondson &
Gasbarre, 2019, pp. 9, 65, 75, 99 Oxenberg
&Stoynoff, 2019, pp. 128, 198 United States
of America v. Raniere, 2019, pp. 133–136
1530–1531 2462). 24 In some cases, he
required that women lose weight before he
would have sex with them (United States of
America v. Raniere, 2019, pp. 2379–2380).
His humiliating comments and frequent
admonishments ensured that many of the
women closely regulated their food, thus
complying to his sexual preference for thin,
calorie-deficient women whom he could
control and groom more easily.25
Raniere established other rules and
regulations pertaining to sex. Proclaiming
that sex with him was a form of “energy
exchange,” and that his semen bound his
sexual partners together, Raniere refused to
wear condoms (Natalie &Hardin, 2019, p.
149). Hence, many women who became
pregnant by him were told to have abortions
(Natalie &Hardin, 2019, p. 150 United
States of America v. Raniere, 2019, 2631 see
Salzman badly desired (United States of America v. Raniere, 2019,
pp. 1552 1526-1528). Moreover, Raniere punished her when he
perceived her to have violated his rule, labelling her as disrespectful
and unworthy of having his child (United States of America v.
Raniere, 2019, pp. 1546–1553).
24 Throughout her memoir, Catherine Oxenberg (Oxenberg &
Stoynoff, 2019) discusses her daughter India’s weight loss. As
Raniere effected greater control over India and her commitment to
him grew, she became dangerously thin, experiencing numerous
detrimental health outcomes.
25 The effects of extreme levels of calorie restriction include physical
and mental deficits. After talking to a nutritionist, journalist, Sarah
Berman (2018) followed a NXIVM style diet of 800 calories per day
for seven days. She reported her experiences in Vice. For a discussion
and analysis of food restrictions in cults, see Meikle (2005).
