While Danielle Smith's egress from Keith Raniere's legal team was one which Raniere was informed of and "consented" to prior to her removal, per the Times Union, it also purportedly coincided with another controversy regarding Raniere's case. As the New York Daily News reported on March 23, 2021, Raniere's attorneys faced criticism from the Brooklyn Federal Court and district prosecutors after it was revealed that a recent filing included information that identified victims of Raniere's sex trafficking — a story that broke only one day after Smiths departure. 

"The Raniere Filing contains the full names of victims and sensitive victim information, including medical records, in contravention of the Court's orders in the above-captioned case," prosecutor Tanja Hajjar stated in a court document requesting that the information be made private, per NY Daily. The media outlet also noted that according to Stephen Metcalf, another one of Raniere's lawyers, the original filing made by the defense and which was meant to be under seal was the result of a "technical error."

Although whether or not Smith's withdrawal from Raniere's legal team and the recent filing kerfuffle are connected is speculative at best, it's also not outside the realm of possibility. Then again, considering that Smith is hardly the first of Raniere's lawyers to take leave from representing their client, there could be more at play.

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