Perverted Lives of the Rich and Famous - Episode LXII > Raniere Gets 120 Years; X-Factor Perv; Blair and Janner Disgrace; Epstein Fall-out

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SEX CULT leader slammed with 120 year prison sentence over NXIVM sex cult that attracted rich & famous

27 Oct, 2020 21:58

Keith Raniere, the founder of the group NXIVM, was sentenced to 120 years in prison after a shocking trial revealed the organization was grooming sex slaves for their leader, who still claims he’s “innocent.”

Raniere was convicted last year on multiple counts, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and forced labor conspiracy. 

Raniere’s self-help organization was the subject of two series this year, ‘The Vow’ and ‘Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult,’ both of which gave an inside look at what was described during trial as a sex cult where women were groomed to be “sex slaves” for Raniere and others were forced into grooming new recruits and silencing defectors. 

The group attracted wealthy and famous followers, some of whom have faced their own criminal charges. Seagram’s heiress Clare Bronfman was sentenced to nearly seven years last week for her role in the organization, and ‘Smallville’ actress Allison Mack is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to racketeering charges. She was accused of recruiting other women into the cult. 

According to prosecutors, Raniere would offer private self-improvement courses where followers would pledge loyalty in bizarre ways, including women who were reportedly branded with his initials. Followers would also give up compromising personal information that would then be used against them as blackmail to earn forced labor or sexual favors for Reniere. The group mainly operated in Albany, New York.

Several victims told their experiences before Tuesday’s sentencing, and Reniere maintained he was innocent and said they were “lying.”

"They’re lying for a reason, and that reason stems from me," he said.

His first victim, identified as Camila, said the cult leader took her virginity at 15. Another accused him of starving and raping her. He’s also been accused of confining a woman for nearly two years against her will, and forcing others to get abortions. 

In a Friday interview with ‘Dateline’ from prison, Raniere claimed he was “innocent” of the charges against him, but admitted to causing “hurt” to others.

“This is a horrible tragedy with many, many people being hurt,” he said. “There is a horrible injustice here. And whether you think I'm the devil or not, the justice process has to be examined.”

“Even if it is by oppression, I am absolutely sorry and pained. This is a horrible situation,” he added. 

Brooklyn federal Judge Nicholas Garaufis also ordered Reniere to pay a $1.72 million fine and said he has not shown any remorse for his crimes.

"Mr. Raniere remains unmoved...[He] has therefore failed to demonstrate remorse," he said.

X-Factor semi-finalist Danny Tetley has 17-year sentence for sexually exploiting 7 teen boys cut as it was ‘too harsh’

Debbie White, The Sun

27 Oct 2020, 13:50

X FACTOR pervert Danny Tetley has had his 17-year sentence for sexually exploiting seven teenagers slashed for being 'too long'.

The singer, 40, used his fame to abuse young boys and targeted teens at show events after reaching the 2018 semi-finals.

Tetley admitted seven charges of causing sexual exploitation of boys aged between 14 and 16, as well as two counts relating to the distribution of indecent images.

The paedo was jailed for nine years as part of a 17-year extended sentence including eight years of close monitoring on licence after his release.

But now his sentence has been slashed following a successful appeal.

At the High Court, Lady Justice Simler said Tetley's original sentence was too lengthy for his crimes.

Did she ask any of his victims?

Upon leaving prison, the pervert will be monitored on licence - put in place by judges to protect the public from serious harm - for just five years instead of eight.

The Criminal Appeal Office said: "The full court allowed the appeal and the sentence is now an extended sentence of 14 years, comprising a custodial term of nine years and an extended period of licence of five years."

The news will come as a huge shock to his young victims, after the judge who initially dealt out his sentence slammed him as a "despicable creature".

Tetley was jailed for nine years after using his fame to beg children to send him indecent pictures in exchange for cash.

He "abused his celebrity status" to groom his victims and force them to send him naked images, a court was told.

The entertainer sent X-rated photos of himself to show the type of poses he wanted from them in 10,000 sickening WhatsApp messages.

Tetley never met any of the teens - aged 14 to 16 - but engaged in "highly sexualised chat" with them as he attempted to convince them to send naked pictures for up to £1,000-a-time.

He told one boy "the more on show, the better the price" as he hounded him for pictures for his "own remote sexual gratification".

When Tetley was arrested, he tried worming his way out by claiming his Facebook was hacked and told cops he couldn't cope with his X Factor fame.

In December 2019 he had pleaded guilty to paying five teenage boys to send him indecent images.

Tetley showed no emotion as he was caged for nine years in January 2020 - with a further eight years on licence when he is released, the Telegraph and Argus reported.

Sentencing him, the judge said: "What you demanded and showed were blatant and the disgusting level to which you sank, Mr Tetley, was quite unbelievable."

He added: "Many will see you for what you are, a despicable creature.

"The reality is our society is deeply interested in celebrity, it does no harm. Pure entertainment of highest order including X Factor, upon which you featured in some capacity. You exploited the status it gave you. You abused that status to satisfy your perverted sexual needs, by your actions."

Bradford Crown Court was told Tetley used his status to satisfy his "perverted sexual needs".

Tetley groomed one 14-year-old victim by talking about girls, his Range Rover and his celeb collections. He also preyed on the teen, who admitted having money problems, and sent him a naked photo of a 15-year-old girl - with a £500 offer for a threesome.

Tony Blair admits nominating former MP Greville Janner for peerage despite knowing of child sex abuse claims against him

By EMINE SINMAZ FOR THE DAILY MAIL

13:10 EDT, 28 October 2020

Tony Blair nominated former Labour MP Greville Janner for a peerage despite being aware of child sexual abuse claims against him, an inquiry heard yesterday.

The ex-prime minister said he did not consider the allegations a reason to bar his appointment.

Lord Janner’s elevation to the House of Lords in 1997 following Labour’s landslide election victory came six years after he was publicly accused of child sex abuse in a high-profile court case.

Mr Blair, 67, said he ‘would have known’ about the claims.

Lord Janner died in 2015, facing 22 charges of historical sexual abuse against nine boys

But he added that Lord Janner, an MP in Leicester from 1970 to 1997, had issued a ‘vigorous public denial’ and had not been charged.   

Lord Janner died in 2015, aged 87, facing 22 charges of historical sexual abuse against nine boys.

In a statement read to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse yesterday, Mr Blair said: ‘In 1997 I would have known of the allegations against Lord Janner.

‘As regards the nomination, I would expect such allegations to be considered (by the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee) as part of that process. 

In the circumstances of Lord Janner’s vigorous public denial, a police investigation, and charges not being brought, I do not believe the allegations would have been investigated further beyond confirming those facts, nor that I would have considered them a bar to the nomination.

‘At this distance, I am unable to specifically identify any particular failing or shortcoming that I was personally responsible for in my capacity as leader of the Labour Party or as Prime Minister.’

Lord Janner’s 1997 nomination described him as ‘a highly respected former MP’ and a patron of many charities.

The hearing was also told that Downing Street said it had received a recommendation that Janner be included in a future honours list. No honour was awarded.

The latest strand of the abuse inquiry, set up in 2014, is due to conclude on Friday.

Epstein sleaze empire fallout continues as head of International Peace Institute resigns over dealings with pedophile; Rudd furious

30 Oct 2020 17:54

Terje Rød-Larsen (right) has resigned over his connections to Jeffrey Epstein (left).

© AFP / Laura Cavanaugh, Wikimedia Commons

The head of the International Peace Institute (IPI), Terje Rød-Larsen, has resigned in disgrace after admitting he accepted donations and a personal loan from the disgraced financier and convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The think tank chief says accepting the donations from foundations related to Jeffrey Epstein was “poor judgement” on his part as was a personal loan from the millionaire financier-cum-human trafficker in 2013. 

“Epstein’s crimes were horrific. The notion that IPI would in some way be associated with such an ugly type is contrary to the institution’s core values,” the New York-based lobby group said in a statement, following an extraordinary board meeting on Thursday. 

The question is - how did he know Epstein? Was he ever a passenger on Lolita?

Chairman of the Board Kevin Rudd was damning in his criticism of Rød-Larsen’s actions.

“Neither the loan nor the repayment of it had previously been disclosed to the board or to me as chairman,” Rudd, a former Prime Minister of Australia, said to the Norwegian newspaper Dagens Næringsliv.

“Rød-Larsen has apologised to the board for what he has described as a serious misjudgment. I am deeply disappointed that the board has had to find out so much of this through the media,” Rudd added.

In November 2019, the IPI announced it would match any donations received from Epstein-affiliated foundations and re-donate the funds to “programs that support victims of human trafficking and sexual assault,” to the tune of a reported $30 million.

Retired Detective Breaks Silence on Janner Investigations

Senior detective breaks silence about former case against Janner

Janner - inspecting the chickens? 1972

A senior detective who investigated child abuse allegations against Labour politician Greville Janner has revealed he was ordered to drop the case 'from the very top' – despite uncovering compelling evidence to charge him.

Breaking a 24-year silence over the scandal, former Detective Inspector Kelvyn Ashby told The Mail on Sunday that during an investigation lasting several months in 1991, he found vital clues that backed up claims that Janner had molested a teenage boy at his marital home and a hotel.

Last night the retired policeman spoke of his anger after being ordered not to arrest Janner because he was an MP. 

Mr Ashby said: 'I felt we had done a good job. I felt we had enough to arrest him but we didn't because he was an MP. I think we should have done. I was gutted that we didn't.'

Detective Inspector Kelvyn Ashby said he found vital clues that backed up
claims that Janner had molested a teenage boy at his marital home and a hotel

And he revealed he was left sickened when Janner sent him a Christmas card thanking him for the way he was treated and inviting him to dinner at the Commons.

As the cover-up scandal deepens over Janner – now deemed too ill to stand trial despite evidence he abused nine boys over three decades – The Mail On Sunday can also reveal:

The head of children's charity the NSPCC has demanded the Director of Public Prosecutions explain her decision not to let the case against Janner be heard in court

More than 40 politicians have signed a letter condemning the way Janner has been allowed to escape justice

Home Secretary Theresa May told this newspaper that the Janner case could deter other victims of abuse coming forward

Janner went on more than 20 working trips abroad in the years after he was reportedly diagnosed with 

Janner was a well-known Leicester MP, barrister and author when in 1991 he was suddenly publicly accused of child abuse at the trial of a notorious paedophile. 

Predatory children's home boss Frank Beck claimed he had tried to stop a boy in his care from visiting Janner, and sensationally called the alleged victim as a defence witness.

By then aged 30, the alleged victim told jurors he was only 13 when Janner had befriended him. He claimed the politician forced him into sex at a hotel, at his London home and on a tour of Scotland.

No charges were brought against Janner and he was backed by fellow MPs after telling the Commons he had been framed by Beck and his accuser.

Prosecutor Alison Saunders (right) who ruled that Lord Janner (pictured in 1996) would not face trial over alleged child sex abuse trained at the same legal firm where he was a QC

But today it can be told for the first time that police had been desperate to see Janner brought to justice after discovering evidence that corroborated the alleged victim's account.

We can reveal that officers went to the North London home where the boy was allegedly abused by Janner and found that it matched his description exactly, with an en suite bathroom off the master bedroom.

They also proved that Janner had stayed at the hotel in Scotland where he was said to have taken the boy.

1974 Greville Janner, Labour MP and QC, alleged to have begun two years of abuse with teenage boy living at a Leicester children’s home.

November 1991 Claims against Janner first made public at trial of paedophile children’s home boss Frank Beck, with the alleged victim giving detailed evidence against him.

December 1991 Janner defends himself in House of Commons and is supported by fellow MPs after police decide not to take action against him.

2002 Leicestershire Police launch Operation Magnolia into historic abuse at local children’s home and again investigate Janner, but take no action.

2006 Operation Dauntless looks at allegations of child abuse in 1981 by three men – two who were by then dead, and Janner.

December 2007 Local CPS lawyers decide not to charge Janner over the latest allegations – and breach normal procedures by not telling bosses in London since the case involved an MP.

2009 Janner diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, according to the CPS, but continues to speak and vote in the House of Lords, as well as going on 20 working trips abroad, in the next few years.

December 2013 Janner’s home in North London searched as police begin a new investigation, Operation Enamel, into historic sex abuse claims.

March 2014 Officers search Janner’s office in the House of Lords.

April 9, 2015 House of Lords receives letter, purportedly from Janner, saying he wants to continue his leave of absence, which started in October 2014.

April 16, 2015 CPS announce they have evidence to charge Janner with 22 child sex offences against nine victims, but will not do so because he has severe dementia.

Speaking in detail for the first time about the case last night Mr Ashby, now 65, said: 'He gave us an account of Janner's house, how many rooms it had and the layout of the furniture. When we visited, Janner had long since moved but the house was exactly as the alleged victim said it was. I was in no doubt he had been in that house.

'We looked at the Scottish tour and believed him, we established Janner stayed in those hotels but could not prove the boy was with him. But we had the note, his testimony, and the fact a boy had been taken out of care to stay in London with an MP. 

'It meant we had enough in my eyes.' Mr Ashby – at the time a Detective Inspector and the Senior Investigating Officer in the Beck case – was working with a Detective Sergeant called Mick Creedon, now Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police.

Detective Sergeant called Mick Creedon

Mr Ashby said: 'Mick and I believed an arrestable offence had been committed and that once we arrested him we could search his house and see if there was any material that helped corroborate what the alleged victim said.

'Someone higher-up told us that we couldn't just arrest an MP and it went no further. We were told that by someone senior, who I can't name, but the order had to have come from the very top. I'm sure my bosses' hands were tied.

'I was extremely frustrated. We might have found more in his house, or maybe more victims would have come forward. Janner should have been arrested. He was treated differently because he was an MP.' Janner was questioned at a police station in Leicester but refused to answer questions.

Mr Ashby, who left the police in 2002, went on: 'The bit that really got me was that I later got a Christmas card in the post from Greville Janner. 

'The card was an official House of Commons Christmas card and was handwritten. It said something like 'I was very pleased with the way you treated me' and invited me and my wife for a dinner at the House of Commons. I couldn't believe it.

'My wife was disgusted, as was I. Needless to say we never replied and never went. I'm only speaking now because the police investigation has stalled. Also, I have to think about the victims and I feel they have been let down.'

A decade later in 2002, Leicestershire Police began another investigation against Janner but no charges were brought.

Then after a third probe in 2006, by which time Janner had been given a peerage by Tony Blair, detectives passed a file to the Crown Prosecution Service but local officials chose not to charge him.

By then, it would reflect on Tony Blair's poor judgment to charge him. Blair certainly displayed poor judgment in giving him peerage.

In 2013 Leicestershire Police began yet another investigation against Janner and got as far as searching his London home and House of Lords office, while more than 20 victims gave statements against him.

The cover-up scandal deepens over Janner (pictured) – now deemed too ill to stand trial despite evidence he abused nine boys over three decades

Ten days ago Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders announced there was enough evidence to charge Janner with 22 offences against nine alleged victims – but he could not be prosecuted because he has severe dementia.

The CPS claimed Janner was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2009. But analysis of his activities since then shows he went on at least 20 foreign trips, including to Israel and America as part of his work fighting anti-semitism and bringing Nazis to justice. He was still chairman of an all-party Parliamentary group two years ago.

Last night Leicestershire Police declined to comment on Mr Ashby's revelations, but confirmed it is now looking again into the earlier cases.

Janner's family have issued a statement insisting he was 'entirely innocent of any wrongdoing'. Of course they did. What else would you expect them to say, "Oh, yes, he's an old bugger"?

The head of Britain's top children's charity last night condemned the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for her bungling of the Lord Janner child abuse scandal – putting her under greater pressure to quit.

Peter Wanless, the chief executive of the NSPCC, demanded that Alison Saunders explain her controversial decision to keep the sickening allegations against the Labour peer out of court. And he warned her poor handling of the case will deter victims coming forward in the future – and could heighten fears of an Establishment cover-up.

Mr Wanless's accusations, in a letter seen by The Mail on Sunday, will put the beleaguered DPP under greater pressure to step down or reconsider her decision to spare Lord Janner prosecution on the grounds that he has dementia.

In his letter, sent on Thursday, NSPCC chief and key Government adviser Mr Wanless told the DPP he was not challenging the medical evidence that Lord Janner has Alzheimer's so is unfit to stand trial.

Peter Wanless the chief executive of the NSPCC, demanded that Alison Saunders
explain her controversial decision to keep the sickening allegations
against the Labour peer out of court

But he demanded answers as to why law chief Mrs Saunders did not choose a well-established procedure often used when suspects lack mental capacity, known as a 'trial of facts', in which jurors hear evidence but do not find guilt and no punishment is imposed by the judge. 

Mr Wanless said justice should have been done – as the CPS admitted last week it should have charged him after three earlier investigations by Leicestershire Police.

He wrote: 'Given the exceptional historical mistakes in this matter, I would like to understand why you did not deem it in the public interest to have a trial of facts, given this legal mechanism exists to enable the alleged victims to present their evidence in court and have a decision made as to whether Lord Janner carried out the alleged acts.

'The decision by the CPS enables the disparity in the public arena between the position of the alleged victims and those of Lord Janner's family to exist in perpetuity.'

He went on: 'With victims of child sexual abuse, it is the very fact of being able to give evidence in court and have a decision made on the allegations which is so crucial.

'The courage required to come forward when you are or have been a victim of child sexual abuse should not be underestimated.

'We are concerned as to the unintentional consequences the situation could have on encouraging other victims of child sexual abuse to come forward, particularly if the accused sits in a position of influence or power.'

Is it possible that deterring victims from coming forward was part of the intent?

Mr Wanless's letter will carry weight as he is a former senior civil servant who last year was called upon by the Home Office to search its archives for the notorious 'Dickens dossier' on alleged VIP paedophiles.

Mrs Saunders, however, believes it would be wrong to hold a trial of facts, because they are usually used when the suspect poses a danger to the public and a judge needs to impose an order to ensure they receive hospital treatment.

Sounds like it qualifies to me. However, as I pointed out a few days ago, there has been a precedent of holding a trial for a man with advanced dementia. Lord Janner could be tried in absentia!

She told the BBC last week: 'The medical evidence was very clear in this case that there was no ongoing risk.' Oh, right, yeah. What medical evidence?

Mr Wanless still believes that Lord Janner's accusers need to be satisfied that justice has been done.
Mrs Saunders suffered another knock last night after a Survation/MoS poll said calls for her to resign are supported by 44 per of the public with 27 in favour of her staying on.