Lori Loughlin & Husband Accuse Feds Of Hiding Evidence In College Admissions Scandal
Dec. 15 2019, Published 4:41 p.m. ET
Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli reportedly have accused federal prosecutors of intentionally hiding evidence in their college admissions case.
The two contend that they didn't intend to secretly bribe anyone.
According to Yahoo entertainment, lawyers for actress Loughlin and fashion designer Giannulli say the Justice Department has refused to turn over critical evidence in their college admissions case and have asked a judge to intervene to force the feds to do so.
The couple's legal eagles filed the motion on Friday, Dec. 13, seeking the government to produce the material, arguing it should be included as exculpatory evidence.
The ex-Full House star, 55, and her spouse, 56, both have pleaded not guilty to federal charges for paying $500,000 in bribes to have their daughters Bella, 21, and Olivia, 20, accepted to USC. Their daughters were allegedly accepted as recruited crew coxswains, even though they did not participate in crew.
According to Us Weekly, Loughlin debated entering a guilty plea after she was hit with additional bribery charges, but Giannulli changed her mind, a source said.
“Lori turned the corner and backed out of considering a guilty plea due to her husband’s insistence,” the insider claimed to Us. “She had been talking to her lawyers about it, but her friends and family were encouraging her to pursue a plea deal. She’s only listening to Mossimo though.”
The couple's legal team has now asked for "all information" concerning alleged college admissions scandal mastermind Rick Singer's representations to his clients regarding payments to USC as well as information about "USC's knowledge of Singer's operation."
The couple's attorneys contend in the new court documents, "At trial, Giannulli and Loughlin will help establish their innocence by showing that they understood both sets of payments to be legitimate donations and did not understand or intent that either set of payments would be used to directly or indirectly bribe… the former USC senior associate athletic director."
In fact, lawyers in other college admissions cases have argued these payments are part of a "University-wide program at USC."
The couple has been charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, honest services fraud, money laundering and federal programs bribery. They face a maximum of 45 years if convicted on all charges.
According to the new motion, "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.
"The Government’s failure to disclose this information is unacceptable, and this Court should put a stop to it."
The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment and a USC rep hasn't responded to a request for comment.
Meanwhile, internet star Olivia recently returned to YouTube after a long absence following the family disgrace.
Olivia said she wants to move on with her life.
As RadarOnline.com reported, Loughlin also came back into the public eye when she attended the memorial for her late friend, restaurateur Harry Morton.
But the actress hid in a car as her husband drove them away from the service!