Lori Loughlin Still Really, Really Believes She'll Be Found Not Guilty
by EG
She faces up to 40 years in prison, but sources say she's sure she'll be found not guilty, because she was a victim in the college bribery scheme, too. She reportedly thinks she was tricked into doing illegal things when her daughters were falsely recruited by USC for a sport that they didn't actually participate in. Read on for details.
Via People.
Lori Loughlin believes that she was tricked by the mastermind of the college admissions scandal, and that she will eventually be found not guilty of the charges against her, a source close to the actress tells PEOPLE.
In court documents filed last Friday, attorney Sean Berkowitz, who represents Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli, claims evidence that could be used to strengthen their case is being withheld by prosecution because it was deemed irrelevant and immaterial.
By sharing FBI interview statements from William “Rick” Singer, the man at the center of the scandal, the celebrity couple’s defense team hopes to show that Loughlin, 55, and Giannulli, 56, didn’t know their donations would be used as bribes. The motion asserts that not sharing the evidence prevents a fair trial.
Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli Say College Donations were Legitimate https://t.co/bkbGcv9WTL
— TMZ (@TMZ) December 15, 2019
“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, which was filed at Massachusetts’ U.S. District Court.
LOUGHLIN FIGHTS BACK: Actress Lori Loughlin is pushing back on claims that she paid bribes to get her daughters into college, with Loughlin and her fashion designer husband now accusing prosecutors of withholding evidence. @TVMarci reports. https://t.co/fFsRwegqRU pic.twitter.com/C3U9EEULZi
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) December 15, 2019
The source explains that the Fuller House star did not fully understand her alleged actions.
“Lori was hoodwinked by Rick Singer,” the source says. “There’s no other way to put it. She was convinced that she was making a donation, just like parents have been doing for years.”
“She did not have any intent to do something illegal, and in fact she thought she was doing the right thing,” the source continues. “That’s why she hasn’t pleaded guilty; frankly, she believes that she is innocent and that the evidence shown in court will prove that. Unfortunately, it seems as though the prosecution is hell-bent on making examples out of people, and not playing fair.”
The United States Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts declined to comment.
Get the rest of the story at People.
Do you think Lori should get off the hook in this case? Let us know in the comments below.