NXIVM pressed district attorney - 2012-03-06
NXIVM pressed district attorney March 6, 2012,
In an interview last week, Albany County District Attorney David Soares said his office's experience with officials of NXIVM, who went to him with a story of being victimized five years ago, was an "extraordinary" time during which the group repeatedly pushed him to use his powers of prosecution against a former NXIVM consultant.
Soares said that he received "tremendous pressure" from NXIVM's representatives and lawyers. He said he eventually resisted their urging that he continue to pursue charges against Joseph J. O'Hara.
Soares, seeking re-election this year, said he allowed a NXIVM legal aide to spend time — Soares estimated weeks — in the district attorney's office to work on a case against O'Hara. Soares said that arrangement is not uncommon when his office prepares financial crimes cases. The NXIVM case involving O'Hara, an Albany-area entrepreneur, has recently drawn attention after revelations that Soares allowed Kristin Keeffe, a top aide to NXIVM founder Keith Raniere, to operate within his office as a sort of victim's advocate.