SAN FRANCISCO — OneTaste submitted pardon applications to the Justice Department in late March for its founder Nicole Daedone and former head of sales Rachel Cherwitz, according to federal records. The San Francisco-based self-described "orgasmic meditation" company has enlisted defense lawyer Alan Dershowitz and approached attorneys, political operatives, media figures, and other allies of President Trump to seek their support.

A federal judge sentenced Daedone to nine years in prison and Cherwitz to over six years in late March, following their 2025 convictions for forced labor conspiracy. OneTaste and its allies argue that members participated voluntarily and consented to sexual activities.

OneTaste initially paid Dershowitz to advise on its legal appeal, and he has since provided pro bono help because he supports its cause. During Trump's first term, Dershowitz used his access to the president to influence several acts of clemency. "The indictment is so broad that it really endangers religious practices and religious freedom," Dershowitz said.

The company also courted former Republican Florida Representative Matt Gaetz, who faced a federal sex trafficking investigation that did not result in charges. Gaetz hosted a segment about the case on a television program. OneTaste sought support from political consultant Roger Stone and approached Steve Bannon, who declined to comment.

An attorney who has worked on several pardon cases during Trump's second term and represented Rudy Giuliani in a defamation case over efforts to overturn Trump's 2020 election loss sent a letter to the Justice Department before the convictions asking for a review of the prosecution.

Marcus Ratnathicam, a former OneTaste employee, reached out on social media before Trump took office to Mike Howell, who runs a nonprofit called the Oversight Project that investigates alleged government weaponization. Howell became a public advocate for Daedone and Cherwitz, and the Oversight Project published a report in January on the case. Neither OneTaste nor Ratnathicam donated to the Oversight Project. Howell said the Justice Department and Trump should take corrective steps to review the case to ensure the convictions do not set a precedent for targeting other groups. Ratnathicam also briefed members of the House Judiciary Committee, led by Representative Jim Jordan, and discussed the case with the Cato Institute and the American Civil Liberties Union.

A nonprofit that argues the case was politically motivated posted a YouTube video in January of OneTaste CEO Anjuli Ayer discussing the prosecution. "We took the president's mantra, 'fight, fight, fight,' and we followed it. But it was not enough to deter these prosecutors," Ayer said in the video. The nonprofit's founder had previously advocated for January 6 defendants before Trump issued pardons or commutations for individuals charged or convicted for their role in the Capitol riot in 2021. Ed Martin served on the board of that nonprofit and collected a stipend from it, according to government financial disclosure.

"You ask why so many people could see this and advocate for it. Not for money, but for the simple, plain fact that there's a justice issue here," Ayer said. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "Spending money to lobby for pardons is foolishly wasting their money, and the administration has a robust pardon review process, which includes White House counsel, the Department of Justice and ultimately the president himself as the final decider."