Imprisoned cult leader Keith Raniere is speaking out from prison, with the NXIVM founder giving his first interview since his arrest more than two years ago.
Friday’s “NBC Nightly News” featured a portion of an interview Raniere gave to journalist Frank Parlato airing later that night on “NBC Dateline”, insisting he did not get a fair shake from America’s criminal justice system.
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“You know, one of the things that’s most important in our country is the justice system,” Raniere said in a clip shared by NBC News.
“And although, you know, people can hate me and do and think I’m an odious type of a character, you know awful actually. Both the devil and a saint should be able to get the exact same treatment under our justice system,” he said.
NXIVM founder Keith Raniere speaks out ahead of his sentencing in an interview with journalist Frank Parlato and @DatelineNBC.
Raniere was found guilty of multiple charges related to the group, which prosecutors call “cult-like.”
We'll have more tonight on @NBCNightlyNews. pic.twitter.com/YLOuHwuA4m
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) October 23, 2020
In addition, Raniere added: “I apologize for my participation in all of this pain and suffering. I’ve clearly participated. I’ve been the leader of the community.”
Raniere also revealed that he’d be making a statement at his upcoming sentencing to declare his innocence.
“Yes, I am innocent,” said Raniere. “And although it is, this is a horrible tragedy with many, many people being hurt, I think the main thrust of this has been the oppression but really a different issue, which is hard for me to express. There is a horrible injustice here. And whether you think I’m the devil or not, the justice process has to be examined.”
