Federal Prosecutors Seek Harsh Sentences for Teaching Orgasmic Meditation Philosophy

The case against Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz raises First Amendment concerns over criminalizing belief systems

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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On March 30, 2026, a federal judge in Brooklyn will sentence Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz for teaching a philosophy about the clitoris. The prosecution is seeking 20 years for Daedone and 14 years for Cherwitz on charges of conspiracy to commit forced labor, even though the government did not prove that anyone was actually forced to do any labor. The case has raised concerns about the government's use of fabricated evidence, the exclusion of scientific studies, and the prosecution of a belief system rather than a specific crime.

Why it matters

This case highlights the government's ability to criminalize belief systems and philosophical teachings, even when there is no evidence of actual harm or forced labor. The prosecution's reliance on the unscientific theory of 'brainwashing' to convict the defendants raises serious First Amendment concerns about the government's power to silence unpopular ideas and philosophies.

The details

The prosecution's case against Daedone and Cherwitz centers around their teaching of 'Orgasmic Meditation' (OM), a practice involving clitoral stimulation that the defendants claim is meditative and therapeutic, not sexual. The government sought to characterize OM as a tool of manipulation and brainwashing, despite nine peer-reviewed studies showing that OM resembles meditation, not sex, in its effects on the brain and body. Judge Gujarati excluded all of this scientific evidence, ruling that OM was not on trial. Instead, the prosecution relied on the testimony of nine college-educated white women who claimed they were brainwashed, even though they had participated voluntarily and valued the practice at the time.

  • On March 30, 2026, a federal judge in Brooklyn will sentence Nicole Daedone and Rachel Cherwitz.
  • In May 2022, while Netflix was filming a documentary called Orgasm Inc: The Story of OneTaste, the FBI collaborated with a former participant and her sister to create fabricated personal journals as evidence against Daedone and Cherwitz.
  • Five months after the documentary aired, Daedone and Cherwitz were indicted.

The players

Nicole Daedone

One of the two women facing sentencing for teaching a philosophy about the clitoris.

Rachel Cherwitz

The other woman facing sentencing for teaching a philosophy about the clitoris.

Ayries Blanck

A former participant who collaborated with the Netflix production team and an FBI agent to create fabricated personal journals as evidence against Daedone and Cherwitz.

Autymn Blanck

Ayries Blanck's sister, who was paid $25,000 by Netflix to read the fabricated journals on camera.

Elliot McGinnis

The FBI Special Agent who participated in the creation of the fabricated evidence.

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What they’re saying

“The happiness is part of the brainwashing.”

— Rebecca Halpern, Therapist with a master's degree (frankreport.com)

“The Defendants argue that these were grown women, these were adults. And they were educated, they were smart. Members of the Jury, that just shows how powerful the coercion was in this case.”

— Kayla Bensing, Assistant U.S. Attorney (frankreport.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the government's ability to criminalize belief systems and philosophical teachings, even when there is no evidence of actual harm or forced labor. The prosecution's reliance on the unscientific theory of 'brainwashing' to convict the defendants raises serious First Amendment concerns about the government's power to silence unpopular ideas and philosophies.