NEW YORK—A former high-ranking NXIVM member who served on the executive board broke down in tears during testimony on May 9 as he read from a “twelve-point mission statement” penned by the group’s leader, which shaped much of the philosophy and values behind NXIVM. He said, looking back, that the document was truly nefarious.
Mark Vicente told the court he had read the document around “500 to 1000” times during his time in NXIVM, usually at the start of each so-called self-help intensive course. During hours-long testimony that will resume next Monday, he described the group’s inner workings to the court and said the curriculum taught by Keith Raniere—who sat about 10 yards away during the testimony with a bright blue sweater and white collar—was “manipulative.”
