NXIVM Cult Leader Begs Judge For THIRD Time To Be Released From Prison 'Immediately'
Jan. 28 2019, Updated 2:42 p.m. ET
He is awaiting trial for allegedly carrying out horrific sex crimes – but NXIVM cult leader Keith Raniere has begged a judge for a third time to be immediately released from prison, RadarOnline.com can report.
New documents filed in federal court on Friday, January 25 showed that Raniere is attempting to get out of jail on a bond. His two previous attempts to get a judge to sign off on similar requests were denied.
This time, Raniere's lawyers appeared to waste no time. In the new filing, the defendant is requesting to be released from prison "immediately."
As RadarOnline.com readers know, Raniere is joined by Smallville actress Allison Mack, Seagram's heiress Clare Bronfman, mother-daughter duo Nancy and Lauren Salzman, and his former NXIVM employee Kathy Russell in the racketeering case. The defendants have been accused of blackmailing, threatening and physically assaulting women at varying levels within NXIVM's alleged inner sex ring known as "DOS."
In the new court filing, Raniere's leaders placed blame on the government. They claimed that Raniere should be released from prison on bail because the "Government has NEVER stated it was ready to try the case."
Additionally, the cult leader's lawyers accused the government of possessing "discovery material that it was refusing to provide to an incarcerated defendant because of a 'continuing investigation.'"
Raniere's attorneys also claimed U.S. attorneys have "engaged in a provable and intentional pattern of delay so as to avoid trying an incarcerated defendant who has continually proclaimed his innocence."
Raniere's five co-defendants have been released on bonds.
RadarOnline.com reported in March 2018 that the cult leader was arrested in Mexico.
Mack was arrested weeks later, followed by a superseding indictment that named all six co-defendants.
The severe charges against the defendants include "identity theft, harboring of aliens for financial gain, extortion, forced labor, sex trafficking, money launder, wire fraud and obstruction of justice," according to the indictment.
Court documents also accused the female co-defendants of "recruiting and grooming sexual partners for Raniere, using harassment, coercion and abusive litigation to intimidate and attack perceived enemies and critics of Raniere."
Raniere has been incarcerated for at least 10 months. A trial is anticipated to begin in early 2019.
What do you think of Raniere's third attempt at getting out of prison? Sound off in the comments!
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