Secret mission: A child - Times Union
The boy has become part of a unique program begun by self-improvement organization NXIVM founder Keith Raniere called the "Rainbow Cultural Garden" aimed at helping youngsters master several languages. Kristen Wilcox, a University at Albany professor of foreign language instruction, who has specialized in multilingual education of children, said very young people are capable of learning a variety of languages but they need to have a dominant language from which the other languages grow. On NXIVM's internet home page, Raniere discusses his ideas about humanity and ethics, saying he wants to spread his way of looking at things around the world, adding that "most profound ideas are first met with ridicule, and then opposition before acceptance." Bouchey, who was a member of NXIVM from March 2000 to May 2009, has become a witness in a civil lawsuit involving NXIVM officials and the Bronfmans, testifying that $100 million of the sisters' money was poured into questionable ventures at the direction of, or for the benefit of, NXIVM leaders, particularly Raniere. Asked about the costs of raising and teaching the boy, and supporting the nannies, she said she could not comment. Besides covering many NXIVM operations, the Bronfmans sisters have paid for several Capital Region properties associated with NXIVM or related entities such as Executive Success Programs, records show. Rainbow Cultural Garden LLC, according to U.S. trademark documents, offers "educational services and curriculum, namely, teaching children language and cultures." Last month, Tighe featured the boy's upbringing at the hands of people long connected with NXIVM, which is based in Colonie, but whose top officials live in the Clifton Park area in a cluster of homes surrounding the boy's home. On June 26, a lawyer for a firm representing the Bronfman sisters served Tighe with a letter demanding he take down the blog and stop writing about "Kristin Keeffe's son" or face potential criminal or civil actions. Tighe complied, but after a few days he pushed back, writing to the state court system's Committee on Professional Standards and arguing that lawyers are not supposed to threaten criminal prosecution.