Lori Loughlin pleads not guilty to new charges in college admissions scandal

Actress Lori Loughlin (C) arrives at the court to appear before Judge M. Page Kelley to face charge for allegedly conspiring to commit mail fraud and other charges in the college admissions scandal at the John Joseph Moakley United States Courthouse in Boston, Massachusetts on April 3, 2019. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP)JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP/Getty Images ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1FC6UN (Photo: JOSEPH PREZIOSO, AFP/Getty Images)

BOSTON — Continuing to dig in, actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, on Friday both pleaded not guilty to new federal bribery charges in the nation’s college admissions scandal. 

Their pleas came in court filings submitted by the couple’s attorney, William Trach, which also waived their right to appear in court for their arraignment. Both pleaded not guilty to each of the counts they face.

“Mrs. Loughlin respectfully asks that the Court accept his waiver and enter Ms. Loughlin’s plea of not guilty,” Loughlin’s notice reads.

The celebrity couple has maintained innocence throughout the admissions scandal, and is preparing for trial, making their position on the new charges not a surprise. Loughlin and Giannulli have already pleaded not guilty to fraud conspiracy and money laundering charges.

The latest charges, federal programs bribery, was brought Oct. 22 against 11 parents charged in the “Varsity Blues” case who did not cave and plead guilty ahead of a deadline prosecutors set last month. 

Loughlin and Giannulli are accused of paying $500,000 to Rick Singer, the mastermind of a nationwide admissions scandal, to get their two daughters falsely classified as crew recruits to be admitted into the University of Southern California.

The new charges do not allege new actions. Rather, prosecutors are ramping up pressure against the remaining 23 parents, coaches and other defendants who have not caved and are preparing for trial in the “Varsity Blues” case. 

Lori Loughlin’s husband emailed accountant: ‘I had to work the system,’ new indictment alleges

Bob Saget on ‘Full House’ co-star: ‘I don’t cut people out’

The federal programs bribery statute involves theft or bribery from entities that receive at least $10,000 in federal funding, such as universities. Prosecutors argue the 11 parents, including Loughlin and Giannulli, conspired to bribe employees of USC to facilitate their children’s entry as fake athletic recruits. 

Fifty-two defendants are charged with crimes in the admissions case, first announced in March. They include 35 parents accused of paying Singer significant bribes to either facilitate cheating on their children’s college entrance exams or tag their children as athletic recruits to get them into school. Twenty-nine defendants, included 19 parents, have since pleaded or agreed to guilty.

Reach Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison.

Source: Read Full Article