NXIVM sex cult leaders appeal conviction, sentence

The leader of the NXIVM sex cult is hoping his conviction will be overturned.

Attorneys for Keith Raniere and Clare Bronfman were in court Tuesday.

Bronfman was also convicted for her role in the sex cult. She is trying to appeal her sentence.

Raniere’s attorneys said Tuesday they didn’t get enough time to cross-examine witnesses.

It was also argued the government provided evidence of abortions that wasn’t relevant to the case. The government said they could have entered even more.

And it was argued a notion of willful blindness was entered at sentencing, something Bronfman’s attorneys said they didn’t know about until then.

Wilfull blindness would say Bronfman was responsible for DOS, a secret sex group related to NXIVM. The government argues the court did not apply that legal concept.

The judge did not make a decision Tuesday and it’s unclear when that will come.

CLICK HERE to read the government’s case brief.