Lori Loughlin in court: Celebrities including Felicity Huffman appear for college admissions scandal hearing
Hollywood starlets Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin made their first courtroom appearance at a Boston federal Court alongside 13 other parents charged with a nationwide college admission cheating scandal.
Huffman and Loughlin appeared before Magistrate Judge Page Kelly on Wednesday for felony charges that they bribed and cheated exams in order to get their daughters accepted into elite universities.
The defendants have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud in a large-scale scheme prosecutors called "Operation Varsity Blues."
Prosecutors said wealthy parents paid a college preparatory business to cheat on standardised tests or bribe coaches into helping them get their child accepted into highly competitive universities ranging from Georgetown University, Yale University, and the University of Southern California.
Huffman paid $15,000 to William Rick Singer, the orchestrator behind the scheme, to have her son's SAT exams rigged. Loughlin paid $500,000 for her two daughters to be considered as recruits to the University of Southern California's crew team. Neither of her daughters ever rowed competitively.
The court appearances for the Hollywood defendants lasted mere minutes.
When Loughlin, and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, was called to appear before the judge, she smiled and reached over to shake the hands of the three prosecutors that brought the felony charges against her.
When asked if they understand the charges and the terms of conditions for their release, both Loughlin and Huffman said they understood.
Ms Kelly said that international travel is prohibited unless it is required for business. The defendants are required to turn in their passports to the probation's office. Loughlin's attorney said she already turned her passport over to her pretrial supervisor in California.
The defendants are also not allowed to take narcotic drugs unless prescribed, possess firearms, and have direct or indirect contact with victims or witnesses — unless there is a lawyer present.
Ms Kelly rejected a request to prohibit parens from discussing the case with their children, saying it is unrealistic.
Actor William H. Macy, Huffman's husband, was not charged in the case despite a FBI affidavit describing the actress's "spouse" also participated in the scheme. He also did not appear in court.
Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman, both actresses are scheduled to appear in Boston federal court Wednesday.
Loughlin and Huffman, alongside thirteen other parents who’ve been charged as part of the nationwide cheating scandal, are scheduled to have their court appearance at 2:30pm ET.
"They're scared and it's 'Can I survive in prison? Am I cut out for prison?'" Justin Paperny said. "What's most surprising to me about the first conversation is how many of them didn't view their actions as criminal." Paperny said he is helping them confront their denial while answering their basic questions about prison life, including ""What's it like? What will my job be? Can my family visit? Is there email? Is there internet?"
Federal prosecutors accuse Loughlin, alone with her husband Mossimo Giannulli of agreeing to pay a college preparatory business $500,000 to have their two daughters named as recruits to the University of Southern California's crew team.
Candace Cameron Bure, who co-stars with Loughlin on Fuller House, came to her friend's defence while appearing on Today on Tuesday.
“It’s too personal to us, and we would never want to talk about someone that’s such a dear and close friend,” Ms Bure said. “I’ve already said that we are family and we stand by each other and pray for each other and we’ll always be there for each other.”
Per New York Post's Page Six: Olivia Jade, Loughlin's daughter, is not speaking to her parents after the college admission scandal broke the news. She reportedly “is still very upset at her parents."
One of the parents in the college admissions cheating scandal, Peter Jan Sartorio, will plead guilty in this case, according to a court filing. Two others are in negotiations. Now, 10 parents are scheduled to appear in court today.
Judge Kelly describes conditions parents must follow while they await on bail. Some of this include no international travel unless required for business, refraining from narcotic drugs unless prescribed, no firearms in their residences, and no director or indirect contact with victims or witnesses – unless there is a lawyer presence.
Defendants will have to turn in their passports to the probation's office. They can retrieve it for travel, but must return it after their travel ends.
