CJ GUNTHER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Lori Loughlin Is ‘Very Involved’ in Her College Admissions Scandal Defense Amid Upcoming Court Appearance
She’s ready to go. Lori Loughlin is preparing for her upcoming court appearance by dedicating a lot of time to researching everything. “Lori has been meeting with lawyers for days at a time,” a source told Us Weekly. “It’s her full-time job, and she is very involved with her defense. When not at her lawyer’s office, Lori is emailing and texting with the team.”
The Full House alum, 55, has even been organizing mock trials with her team to go over all scenarios. “Her lawyers plays the prosecutor, grilling her,” the insider revealed, adding the meetings are “grueling.” Despite the rocky situation, Loughlin is “adamant” about testifying, the source admitted.
In March, Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Giannulli, were arrested after they allegedly paid $500,000 to get their two daughters, Bella Giannulli, 21, and Olivia Jade Giannuilli, 20, into college at the University of Southern California as crew recruits, even though they never played the sport. One month later, the couple pleaded not guilty to fraud and money laundering charges.
Then, in October, the United States Department of Justice tacked on more charges — including conspiring to commit federal program bribery. “In exchange for the bribes, employees of the university allegedly designate the defendants’ children as athletic recruits — with little or no regard for their athletic abilities — or as members of other favored admissions categories,” the press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of Massachusetts read. The two are still awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, Felicity Huffman — who was also involved in the nationwide college admissions scandal — pleaded guilty and served 11 days in prison for committing the crimes. While the Desperate Housewives alum, 56, owned up to her mistakes, Loughlin is still defending her innocence, which might not be the best tactic, according to Eric Schiffer, chairman of Reputation Management Consultants.
“She has thumbed her nose and approached the whole process in a very arrogant style that has choked off compassion and empathy that she would have normally had to some extent with her fans, and she’s taken her brand and created a blistering of fact to what was beloved and trusted celebrity for years,” he told In Touch exclusively.
Schiffer believes Loughlin “can recover” from this incident, though. “But it’s going to require her to show a level of regret and remorse and for her to begin to build back and create a story that allows people to reconnect with her and understand how she could have been, and how she could have made these decisions and also act in the ways that she did post-indictment that caused such an odious element to her and her celebrity,” he said.
Only time will tell what happen next.
Have a tip? Send it to us! Email In Touch at contact@intouchweekly.com.
