Lori Loughlin Claims Prosecutors Are Concealing Evidence And Preventing A Fair Trial
Lori Loughlin continues her legal fight in the Operation Varsity Blues college admissions scandal, and this time her legal team has filed documents with the Massachusetts’ U.S. District Court claiming that the prosecutors in the case or concealing evidence that could prevent the actress and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, from having a fair trial.
According to People Magazine, Loughlin and Giannulli’s attorney Sean Berkowitz filed documents on Friday with claims that the prosecution is withholding evidence that they believe to be “irrelevant and immaterial,” but Loughlin and Giannulli believe it would strengthen their case.
Attorneys for actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, say the US government is hiding evidence that would benefit the couple's defense in the college admission scandal https://t.co/w0znuYHwBK
— CNN (@CNN) December 16, 2019
The evidence in question are statements that William “Rick” Singer – the admissions consultant at the center of the scandal – made during his FBI interview which Loughlin and Giannulli believe show that they had no idea the donations they made would be used as bribes to get their daughters into the University of Southern California.
“But the Government appears to be concealing exculpatory evidence that helps show that both Defendants believed all of the payments they made would go to USC itself — for legitimate, university-approved purposes — or to other legitimate charitable causes,” read the motion. “The Government’s failure to disclose this information is unacceptable, and this Court should put a stop to it.”
Loughlin and Giannulli are facing charges of laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, honest services mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery after they allegedly paid Singer and his non-profit organization Key Worldwide Foundation $500,000 to designate their daughters Olivia Jade, 20, and Isabella Rose, 21, as crew recruits even though neither was involved in the sport.
Both Loughlin and Giannulli have pleaded not guilty, and they note in their filing that their legal team will present evidence to show that the couple believed Key Worldwide Foundation was a charitable organization that helped underprivileged children.
An insider says that the Fuller House alum has become “extremely well-versed in the case,” and she has been actively participating in her own defense. The source says that Lori Loughlin believes she has a “valid defense,” and a jury will not find her or her husband guilty.
Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli are scheduled to be in court on January 17, 2020. If the couple is found guilty on all counts in their trial, they will be facing up to 60 years in prison.
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