An introspective look at the NXIVM cult founded by Keith Raniere and Nancy Salzman in 1998. Though the organization claimed to provide personal and professional improvement opportunities to those who joined, it has since made headlines for various charges brought against its leaders, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Keith Raniere is found guilty on all charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, forced labor conspiracy, identity theft and production and possession of child pornography. Many survivors of his abuse come forward to deliver powerful victim impact statements and he is sentenced to 120 years. His supporters work to exonerate him, and he plans to appeal. Nancy Salzman comes to a painful reckoning; she is sentenced to 42 months in federal prison.
A witness for the prosecution gives heart-wrenching testimony about how Keith Raniere groomed her from a very young age and describes the coercive abuse she suffered at his hands, including being isolated in a room for two years. We learn the witness’s younger sister was preyed upon by Raniere; this shocking and overwhelming evidence finally convinced Nancy Salzman to plead guilty and disavow Raniere. The trial concludes and all await the verdict.
Lauren Salzman testifies to decades of manipulation at the hands of Keith Raniere, a man she loved. Her loyalty and devotion eventually turned her into both a victim and victimizer of other women. NXIVM supporters are unconvinced by the evidence presented in court. Nancy Salzman grapples with learning the extent of Raniere’s sexual pursuit of both of her daughters.
Marc Agnifilo presents his case attesting to the good work of NXIVM; Marc Elliot remains loyal to Keith Raniere after he claims the symptoms of his Tourette’s syndrome were successfully reduced by Nancy Salzman. First-line DOS member and NXIVM leader, Lauren Salzman takes the stand… for the prosecution!
Nancy Salzman looks back at her professional and personal relationship with Keith Raniere and defends her intentions with the company: to help people achieve lasting, personal growth through Executive Success Programs. The first witnesses in the trial are called to the stand, including defector Mark Vicente and Raniere victim Sylvie.
Prosecutor Moira Penza and defense attorney Marc Agnifilo prepare for trial after the arrest of Keith Raniere, Nancy Salzman, Clare Bronfman, Allison Mack and Lauren Salzman. DOS members Nicki Clyne and Michele Hatchette offer a different perspective into NXIVM, DOS, and Raniere, while Nancy Salzman, under house arrest, sits down to speak with the filmmakers.
Keith hasn’t been seen in Clifton Park for weeks, and the team gets a tip on where he might be. Catherine meets with India, who maintains her position. Mark and Bonnie return to Clifton Park for the first time since leaving NXIVM and confront their memories of Keith and the curriculum. Sarah, Bonnie, Mark, Nippy, and Catherine face a shocking development in the case.
As the group gathers evidence for their FBI testimonies, they express their beliefs about how the curriculums of SOP and JNESS, men’s and women’s groups within NXIVM, reshaped their ideas on gender roles in society and may have laid the foundation for DOS.
After learning that the New York Attorney General’s chief investigator is interested in building a criminal case against Keith, Catherine travels to Buffalo to meet with Frank Parlato, creator of the anti-NXIVM blog “The Frank Report,” to build a dossier of evidence. Meanwhile, we’re introduced to Toni Natalie, one of Keith’s former girlfriends, who takes us back to the ’90s to share her experiences and the challenges she faced with Keith during the days of his first company, Consumers’ Buyline.
Sarah, Mark, and Nippy contact additional news outlets to provoke outrage and pressure law enforcement to pay attention. Barbara Bouchey, a former board member, shares her insight into NXIVM, reflecting on her time in Keith’s inner circle.
