HBOs The Vow explores the history of self-improvement organization NXIVM, its members, and its founder, Keith Raniere. For years, Keith appeared to be a magnanimous life coach who helped his followers find purpose in their lives. But over the course of the nine-part documentary, audiences come to see his true manipulative personality and the dark, cult-like nature of the multi-level marketing group.
Its now been over two years since Keith was arrested by Mexican authorities in Puerto Vallarta, where he had fled after the New York Times article about DOS, the secret womens group within NXIVM, was published. Along with Keith, other key members like Allison Mack, the Bronfman sisters, Nancy and Laura Salzman, and Kathy Russell were also arrested on various charges related to NXIVM.
But where exactly is Keith Raniere today and what happened at his trial?
After Keith was arrested and extradited from Mexico, authorities transported him back to the U.S. where he faced charges of sex trafficking, conspiracy, possession of child pornography, racketeering, and more. Keith was also accused of creating a sex cult under the guise of self-improvement, through which he pressured women to sleep with him and used them for his own financial benefit.
Over the course of his six-week trial, several women came forth and testified about the disturbing details of what they had done while in the cult. Prosecutors said that dozens of women had been lured into Keiths sex cult with the promise of personal empowerment and growth, while he in fact was using the group to control these women.
One woman even testified to being kept in captivity in a closet for around two years after she did something that displeased Keith.
At the end of the trial, it reportedly took the jury less than five hours to determine that Keith was guilty of seven out of the 11 charges. He now faces a potential 15 years to life in prison.
Despite the conviction being over a year old now, Keith is still awaiting sentencing from a jail cell in Brooklyn. The convicted sex-cult leader was scheduled to be sentenced during an April 16 hearing but the proceedings were delayed due to the fact that Keith had been unable to meet with his attorneys because of a 30-day prohibition of visitors at his jail to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Since then, there have been two more delays, all related to the pandemic, but in August, a federal judge rescheduled Keith's sentencing to Oct. 27, in a courtroom that has been closed since March.
But jail time isnt the only consequence that Keith faces. Hes also a defendant in a lawsuit that was filed in January of this year against him and 14 of his key NXIVM associates.
The lawsuit, which includes 80 plaintiffs, accuses NXIVM of duping them out of thousands of dollars through a pyramid scheme and making it financially, physically, and psychologically difficult, and in some cases impossible, to leave the coercive community.
Stream The Vow on HBO. New episodes premiere every Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.
Read this article:
Where Is Keith Raniere Now in 2020? Fans of 'The Vow' Are Curious - Distractify
- Bodies of Empowerment Personal Training - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Series On Personal Empowerment at Psychology, Philosophy ... - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Empowering Women - Self Empowerment, Personal & Spiritual ... - December 8th, 2016 [December 8th, 2016]
- Empowerment and Strengths-Based Perspective: Social Work - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- Top 100 Womens Empowerment Blogs | Psychology of Eating - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- Empowerment Theory - Springer - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- radKIDS.org - The national leader in children's safety - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- Personal Empowerment Program : World Youth - January 8th, 2017 [January 8th, 2017]
- Personal Empowerment - Life Change 90 - January 12th, 2017 [January 12th, 2017]
- 'This is a phase of empowerment' - The Hindu - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- 'Pink' actress joins campaign for women empowerment - The New Indian Express - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Help yourself, Feb. 8 - Casper Star-Tribune Online - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Making Sure Americans' Longer Lives Are Healthy - Next Avenue - Next Avenue - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Senator announces legislation to protect seniors from fraud - WSYR - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Here's who will share a personal tale of 'Behind the scenes' at Coachella Valley Storytellers Project - The Desert Sun - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Another Voice: Land trust will empower Fruit Belt residents - Buffalo News - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Tech is empowering women, and it's great for business - GreenBiz - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Town Crier: Help Yourself - Casper Star-Tribune Online - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- WE Are Women's Philanthropy - Jewish Exponent - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Boston's Office of Financial Empowerment Wants to Spread the Wealth - Next City - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Empowering the Data Subject - Manila Bulletin - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- The Ripple - Olney Daily Mail - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- The Problem With A 'Shoppable' Presidency - Forbes - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Making Sure Our Longer Lives Are Healthy Ones - Forbes - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- L'Anse Creuse Community Action Coalition Hosts 16 Annual Dialogue Day - Patch.com - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Town Crier: Help Yourself | Town Crier | trib.com - Casper Star-Tribune Online - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- Springs School News, February 16 - 27east.com - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Northwest Credit Union Foundation partners with BALANCE to provide personal finance training to MESA participants - CUinsight.com (press release) - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- 5 Steps To Validate Your Business Idea Before Getting Started - Forbes - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Katy Perry Dances Till the World Ends and MIA Starts a New Wave - New York Times - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Fire service receives funding to deliver 'personal development ... - Wiltshire Times - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Milk Makeup Is Celebrating Its Anniversary With A New Campaign - NYLON - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Bells University, New Horizons sign MoU On ICT empowerment for students - NIGERIAN TRIBUNE (press release) (blog) - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Mastering Trump's mastermind: Sebastian Gorka and the struggle between Islam and the West - EUROPP - European Politics and Policy (blog) - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- Melinda Gates Credits Contraception With Her Personal and Professional Success - Slate Magazine (blog) - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- 4 Low-Cost Benefits That Majorly Boost Employee Healthiness - Tech.Co - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Ajit Pai's digital empowerment agenda is good news for rural America - The Hill (blog) - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Humana, JE Dunn among top winners at Healthiest Employers Awards (SLIDESHOW) - Atlanta Business Chronicle - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- The Vagina Monologues Grabs Back Female Empowerment - The Stanford Daily - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- The truth about Ivanka's Trumped-up, me-first feminism - Macleans.ca - February 17th, 2017 [February 17th, 2017]
- Fake becomes legit: social media and the rise of disinformation in democracies - Democratic Audit UK - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Pink Gloves Boxing: Women's class focuses on empowerment ... - The Missoulian - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- On Presidents Day, we celebrate the good ones - Daily Astorian - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Shaking The Fear Of Breastfeeding In Public - Huffington Post UK - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- OUR VIEW: On Presidents Day, we celebrate the good ones - East Oregonian (subscription) - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- Transformation of South Africa needs high sense of consciousness for social justice for success - Thought Leader - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Middle school girls receive empowering messages at Beautiful U - WOTV4women.com - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Teaching Our Kids Real from Fake - Huffington Post - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Weekly Music Roundup: Big Beautiful Day, Cubafonia, & "Carol" - WNYC - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Impact 100 members tour remodeled STEP Training Center - TCPalm - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Sri Sri Ravi Shankar conducts DSN Prog online - Daily Excelsior - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Bloomfield Company Uses Disney Princesses To Promote Female Empowerment - Patch.com - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Viewpoints: The case for expanding Empowerment Scholarship Accounts - AZCentral.com - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Apple Music just released an album made on an iPhone ... - Computerworld - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- "The Farting Sex Tourist" Is Both Deep and Deeply Silly - PopMatters - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Personal trainer focuses on client empowerment - Olean Times Herald - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Pushing past barriers: Program aims to foster empowering female relationships - West Central Tribune - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- Town Crier: Sunday's Highlights - Casper Star-Tribune Online - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- MILCK comes to Portland this week to emPOWer - Oregon Music News - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Sippican to Implement 'radKIDS' Defense Program - Wanderer - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Personal trainer focuses on client empowerment - Clearfield Progress - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Black History Month: Recovering Our Personal Narrative - Muslim Link - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Judge Holds NYPD's Feet to Fire on Press Credentials - Courthouse ... - Courthouse News Service - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Federal Judge Says NYC's Regulation Of The Press Will Go On Trial - Village Voice - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- The Jamaican Women of Florida, Inc. (JWOF) elected a new Board of Directors - Jamaicans.com - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- This women's sport you've never heard of is taking Israel by storm ... - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Consult a psychic - for empowerment - Philly.com - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Digital Inclusion Summit: Training, Partnerships Are Key - Rivard Report - March 2nd, 2017 [March 2nd, 2017]
- Electing Caliban: Assessing Civic Health in Post Truth America - Huffington Post - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Krejci named 2017 Woman of Achievement - Southernminn.com - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- Film spotlights human trafficking as Trump promises action - The Republic - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- COMMENTARY: Empowering the homeless to take the next step ... - Delaware State News - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- BEP hosts women empowerment conference - The Brown Daily Herald - March 6th, 2017 [March 6th, 2017]
- Family planning key to women empowerment - K24 TV - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Jeremiah Program Gives Families Home to Help Rise Out of Poverty - TWC News - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- What the Health Documentary Shocks, Educates, and Empowers - Clearly Veg (blog) - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Westfield HS to Host Female Student Empowerment Symposium - Patch.com - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Our view: Sports program for disabled students is welcome - Winston-Salem Journal - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Video Of The Week #24: Astroid Boys Foreigners (Feat Sonny Double 1) - God Is In The TV - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- International Women's Day 2017 Be Bold For Change - St. Lucia Times Online News (press release) - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]