An organization in San Francisco that prosecutors likened to a intercourse cult has launched into a marketing campaign to court docket allies of President Trump because it seeks pardons for its two convicted leaders, CBS Information has realized by interviews and information.
OneTaste, a self-described “orgasmic meditation” firm, is on the hunt for clemency for its former CEO and founder Nicole Daedone and former head of gross sales Rachel Cherwitz. In late March, a federal choose sentenced the 2 ladies to jail — 9 years for Daedone and over six for Cherwitz — after their conviction in 2025 for pressured labor conspiracy.
OneTaste has taken the normal step of submitting pardon functions to the Justice Division for Daedone and Cherwitz, in keeping with federal information.
However it’s also adopting a few of the elaborate back-channel protocols of a brand new, less-formal pardon course of throughout Mr. Trump’s second time period. The enterprise includes efforts to win help from allies of the president by approaching attorneys, political operatives, media figures, and others in his orbit — all a part of a playbook utilized by others to land clemency since final January.
Yuki Iwamura / Bloomberg through Getty Photographs
Rachel Barkow, a legislation professor at New York College and knowledgeable on government clemency, mentioned OneTaste’s efforts to make outreach to MAGA allies and influencers reveals how pardon-seekers more and more navigate casual channels to get the president’s consideration.
“It is of a magnitude that I’ve by no means seen earlier than,” Barkow advised CBS Information. “We do not appear to have a functioning clemency course of for everybody else who would not have these connections.”
Daedone and Cherwitz, in keeping with prosecutors, had been behind an abusive scheme to coerce their workers into performing traumatic and demeaning duties — together with sexual acts — for little to no pay. Attorneys for the defendants argued that they led a ladies’s empowerment enterprise and that OneTaste members may have left the group at any time. They’ve filed for attraction.
Serving to quarterback this pardon effort is well-known protection lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who used his entry to Mr. Trump throughout his first time period to affect a number of acts of clemency. He mentioned in an interview with CBS Information that he believes the “indictment is so broad that it actually endangers spiritual practices and spiritual freedom.”
Throughout his second time period, Mr. Trump has granted clemency to varied allies who confronted prosecution, in addition to convicts who employed individuals in his orbit who helped dealer the pardons or commutations.
White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt has mentioned that anybody “spending cash to foyer for pardons is foolishly losing their cash” and that the administration has a “sturdy pardon evaluation course of, which incorporates White Home counsel, the Division of Justice and finally the president himself as the ultimate decider.”
OneTaste paid Dershowitz to advise on its authorized attraction, he mentioned, including that he has since helped the corporate professional bono as a result of he helps its trigger.
In line with a supply acquainted with the outreach, OneTaste has additionally courted Matt Gaetz, the previous Republican Florida congressman who confronted a federal intercourse trafficking investigation, which didn’t end in any fees towards him. Gaetz hosted a phase concerning the case on his One America Information present, remarking that “no one was pressured or restrained or in any other case threatened to proceed collaborating” in OneTaste occasions. Gaetz didn’t reply to requests for remark.
One other Trump ally who OneTaste sought in its efforts was political guide Roger Stone, who talked concerning the case on his podcast. Stone advised CBS Information that he believes the Daedone and Cherwitz conviction “actually raises critical constitutional points.”
OneTaste additionally approached Steve Bannon and MAGA influencer Laura Loomer, sources near OneTaste advised CBS Information. Bannon declined to remark about OneTaste. Loomer mentioned she doesn’t work on pardons and would not recall the outreach. “I get so many calls,” Loomer advised CBS Information.
And to combat the case, OneTaste beforehand enlisted one other MAGA-connected legal professional, Adam Katz. He advised CBS Information that he despatched a letter to the Justice Division pre-conviction that requested for a evaluation of the prosecution. Katz has labored on a number of pardon instances throughout Mr. Trump’s second time period, and he represented Rudy Giuliani in a defamation case over his efforts to overturn Mr. Trump’s loss within the 2020 election.
Anjuli Ayer, now the CEO of OneTaste, mentioned that Daedone and Cherwitz have garnered help due to the prosecution’s “injustice.”
“You ask why so many individuals may see this and advocate for it,” Ayer advised CBS Information. “Not for cash, however for the easy, plain reality that there is a justice subject right here.”
“Entry to individuals in influential locations”
OneTaste has taken different steps to curry favor with Republicans in Washington.
A former worker for the corporate, Marcus Ratnathicam, reached out on social media earlier than Trump took workplace to Mike Howell — a detailed ally of Ed Martin, now the U.S. pardon legal professional. Since then, Howell, who runs a nonprofit known as the Oversight Undertaking that investigates alleged authorities weaponization, has grow to be a public advocate for Daedone and Cherwitz. His group printed a report in January that highlighted the case.
Ratnathicam has additionally briefed members of Congress on the Home Judiciary Committee — led by Republican Ohio Congressman Jim Jordan — concerning the OneTaste case, in keeping with sources acquainted with the matter. He has additionally mentioned the case with the libertarian Cato Institute suppose tank and American Civil Liberties Union, the sources mentioned. Ratnathicam declined to be interviewed.
Howell advised CBS Information that the Justice Division and Mr. Trump ought to “take corrective steps” to evaluation the OneTaste case to make sure the convictions do not set a precedent for extra teams being focused sooner or later. OneTaste and its allies have argued that members participated with the corporate voluntarily and consented to sexual actions.
Neither OneTaste, nor Ratnathicam donated to his nonprofit, Howell mentioned, including that he doesn’t share donor information and “would not flip over non-public data from individuals within the authorities’s crosshairs.”
OneTaste has additionally discovered an ally in Cynthia Hughes, a detailed pal of Martin, who performs a central position in reviewing clemency choices.
Hughes runs a nonprofit known as Patriot Freedom Undertaking, which argues that the OneTaste case was politically motivated. Martin served on the board of administrators of her group and picked up a stipend from it, in keeping with his authorities monetary disclosure.
In a weblog publish on its web site, Patriot Freedom Undertaking’s “Weaponization Watch” initiative says the OneTaste case “is weaponization of presidency and conservatives acknowledge that one of these authorized principle will come for them subsequent.” The publish, which claims that Daedone and Cherwitz had been focused “for operating a profitable sexual wellness enterprise primarily based on voluntary affiliation,” additionally contains quotes from Dershowitz and Stone discussing the case.
Hughes’ group additionally posted a video on YouTube in January of Ayer, OneTaste’s now-CEO, speaking concerning the prosecution — whereas giving a nod to MAGA. “We took the president’s mantra, ‘combat, combat, combat,’ and we adopted it,” Ayer mentioned. “However it was not sufficient to discourage these prosecutors.”
Hughes has historical past with the pardon course of — she advocated for Jan. 6 defendants earlier than Mr. Trump’s pardons or commutations for individuals charged or convicted for his or her position within the Capitol riot in 2021.
Her group additionally took credit score for serving to to safe Mr. Trump’s pardon final 12 months of Michael McMahon, a former police officer convicted of performing as an unlawful international agent and stalking. Martha Byrne, an actress and the spouse of McMahon, advised CBS Information that she was launched to Martin at an occasion hosted by Hughes at Trump Nationwide Golf Membership in Bedminster, New Jersey.
“Cynthia has been a tremendous supporter and pal,” Byrne mentioned. “I champion her work.”
Since final 12 months, Hughes has attended at the very least seven conferences on the pardon workplace with Martin and different officers, in keeping with customer logs reviewed by CBS Information. Ayer and Ratnathicam had been at two of these conferences, in January and February 2026, the information present.
A spokesperson for OneTaste advised CBS Information that the corporate has not paid Hughes or donated to Patriot Freedom Undertaking.
Regardless, OneTaste insiders mentioned they’re inspired that Hughes has taken up Daedone and Cherwitz’s trigger due to her shut proximity to the pardon legal professional.
“It’s extensively recognized that Cynthia has entry to individuals in influential locations, and it is no stretch that anybody who can open doorways is somebody value having as an ally,” a supply near OneTaste advised CBS Information.
Hughes didn’t reply to requests for remark.
A Trump administration official mentioned that, whereas the president is the final word decider on pardons, Martin is seen by some “with desires” like Hughes within the MAGA base “as their finest probability” at securing any pardons. The official spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t licensed to take action publicly.
A spokesperson for the Justice Division declined to remark, referring CBS Information to Martin straight — who additionally didn’t reply a listing of emailed questions.
