Feds downplay Lori Loughlin, parents’ college admissions scandal jury trial concerns
Feds are downplaying concerns from Lori Loughlin and “Varsity Blues” college admissions scandal defendants that proposed trial groupings could prejudice individual parents, as the topic is appearing to become a prominent discussion in Thursday’s status conference.
The “Full House” actress and 14 other parents facing federal bribery charges in the scandal have argued in filings evidence against one parent could be irrelevant to others. Parents are alleged to have participated in two separate schemes — a college testing cheating scam, and a “side door” bogus athletic admission scheme.
“All evidence of the conspiracy is admissible as to all the defendants, regardless of how many trials there are,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen wrote in a response to defendants Tuesday.
Feds proposed up to three separate trials beginning as soon as October, while parents want trials at a later date because of multiple pending fights for additional evidence disclosures.
The filing Tuesday by prosecutors indicates trial groupings will be a main topic of discussion at Thursday’s status conference, at which Loughlin and defendants are not likely to appear. The parents have not been required to attend two previous status conferences, and have made few appearances at federal court since their initial appearances last year.
Sentencing for parents will resume next week with couple Elizabeth and Manuel Henriquez, who agreed to pay over $530,000 for both test cheating and “side door” schemes for their two daughters.
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3a6IjY4
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