Lori Loughlinis urging courts to release evidence that she claims could help prove her innocence in the ongoingcollege admissions scandal.
By sharing FBI interview statements fromWilliam “Rick” Singer, the man at the center of the college admission 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.
“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, which was filed at Massachusetts’ U.S. District Court.
The documentcontinued: “The Government’s failure to disclose this information is unacceptable, and this Court should put a stop to it.”
The United States Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts declined to comment.
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TheFull Houseactress and her fashion designer husband allegedly paid $500,000 to admissions consultant Singer (and his nonprofit organization, Key Worldwide Foundation, or “KWF”) to falsely designate daughtersOlivia Jade Giannulli, 20, andIsabella Rose Giannulli, 21, as recruits to the University of Southern California crew team, though neither actually participated in the sport.
In addition to charges of money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and honest services mail and wire fraud, Loughlin and Giannulli were handed anadditional federal chargein October: one count each of conspiracy to commit federal programs bribery. They have pleadednot guilty.
The defense team, in the court documents, says it’s key to the case how the parents were told their monetary donations were to be spent. In releasing the Singer statements, they think it can show that Loughlin wasn’t aware the money would be used for bribery.
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“As noted, in making their case to the jury, Giannulli and Loughlin intend to present evidence that they reasonably believed KWF was a bona fide charitable organization, and that their payments to KWF would support programs geared toward helping underprivileged children,” reads the filing.
A sourcepreviously told PEOPLEthat Loughlin believes she has a “valid defense.”
“Lori in particular has become extremely well-versed in the case,” the insider said at the time. “She’s an active participant in her own defense.”
The source added: “She feels like she’s got a valid defense, and that when all the evidence comes out, that she won’t be found guilty. She still is looking into the avenues to defend herself against what she thinks is a meritless charge.”
source: people.com
