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Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin Appear in Court as College Admissions Scandal Rewrites Lives Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin Appear in Court as College Admissions Scandal Rewrites Lives
(32 minutes later)
The actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin made their first appearances in court on Wednesday, along with about a dozen other parents charged in the college admissions fraud investigation. BOSTON — The actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin made their first appearances in court on Wednesday, along with about a dozen other parents charged in the college admissions fraud investigation.
Their appearances were largely procedural, with little discussion of their cases. But the horde of photographers outside the federal courthouse in Boston pointed to the interest the charges have garnered, and how the parents have become symbols of what many believe is a rigged system, not just in college admissions but in American society at large. The horde of photographers outside the federal courthouse in Boston pointed to the interest the charges have garnered, and how the parents have become symbols of what many believe is a rigged system, not just in college admissions but in American society at large.
Even before the 33 parents charged in the scandal have their cases heard in court, some are also facing a special kind of public shaming. Even before the 33 parents charged in the scandal have their cases heard in court, some are also facing a special kind of public shaming. They have been placed on leave or lost their jobs, had book contracts canceled and television shows scrapped. They must seek permission to leave the country, and for now, it seems, international vacations are out.
They have been placed on leave or lost their jobs, had book contracts canceled and television shows scrapped. They must seek permission to leave the country, and for now, it seems, international vacations are out.
“There does seem to be a certain assumption that these people are guilty just based upon the accusation — and that’s not true, and that’s not fair,” said David Schumacher, a lawyer for two of the parents, Gregory and Amy Colburn. The Colburns pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.“There does seem to be a certain assumption that these people are guilty just based upon the accusation — and that’s not true, and that’s not fair,” said David Schumacher, a lawyer for two of the parents, Gregory and Amy Colburn. The Colburns pleaded not guilty on Wednesday.
[Read the full list of who has been charged here.][Read the full list of who has been charged here.]
Ms. Loughlin and her husband, the designer Mossimo Giannulli, are accused of conspiring with William Singer — the college consultant at the center of the alleged scheme — to pay $500,000 in bribes to facilitate their daughters’ admission to the University of Southern California. The Hallmark Channel, where Ms. Loughlin has major roles on a show and a television movie series, has said that it will stop development of shows featuring her.Ms. Loughlin and her husband, the designer Mossimo Giannulli, are accused of conspiring with William Singer — the college consultant at the center of the alleged scheme — to pay $500,000 in bribes to facilitate their daughters’ admission to the University of Southern California. The Hallmark Channel, where Ms. Loughlin has major roles on a show and a television movie series, has said that it will stop development of shows featuring her.
Prosecutors say Ms. Huffman paid Mr. Singer $15,000 to cheat on her daughter’s SAT. It is not clear yet how the charges have affected Ms. Huffman’s career. Netflix, which is behind two of her current projects — one that is completed, and another that is in postproduction — has not commented on the case. But, like Ms. Loughlin, Ms. Huffman has been derided on social media, and she has deleted her parenting blog, “What the Flicka.”Prosecutors say Ms. Huffman paid Mr. Singer $15,000 to cheat on her daughter’s SAT. It is not clear yet how the charges have affected Ms. Huffman’s career. Netflix, which is behind two of her current projects — one that is completed, and another that is in postproduction — has not commented on the case. But, like Ms. Loughlin, Ms. Huffman has been derided on social media, and she has deleted her parenting blog, “What the Flicka.”
Ms. Huffman’s and Ms. Loughlin’s interviews by the judge each lasted less than five minutes. The parents have all been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, and are accused of conspiring with Mr. Singer to either cheat on college entrance exams, or pay bribes to game the admissions process. Mr. Singer has pleaded guilty to racketeering and other charges. Ms. Huffman’s and Ms. Loughlin’s interviews by Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley on Wednesday each lasted less than five minutes. The parents have all been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, and are accused of conspiring with Mr. Singer to either cheat on college entrance exams or pay bribes to game the admissions process. Mr. Singer has pleaded guilty to racketeering and other charges.
[Read more about William Singer, the founder of a college preparatory business, who’s at the center of the case.][Read more about William Singer, the founder of a college preparatory business, who’s at the center of the case.]
It is not only the famous parents who have been affected. It is not only the famous parents who have faced stiff penalties.
Homayoun Zadeh, an associate professor of dentistry at U.S.C., who prosecutors say also conspired with Mr. Singer to pay a bribe to get his daughter admitted to the school, has seen his career derailed.Homayoun Zadeh, an associate professor of dentistry at U.S.C., who prosecutors say also conspired with Mr. Singer to pay a bribe to get his daughter admitted to the school, has seen his career derailed.
He has been placed on leave by the university, whose interim president described it as essentially a step toward termination. In a motion asking the judge to modify Mr. Zadeh’s conditions of release, so that he could speak at conferences in Malaysia, Taiwan, Canada and France, Mr. Zadeh’s lawyers said that he had also lost three book contracts. If he were not allowed to attend the conferences, they wrote, he would be out the cost of several international plane tickets as well as any honorariums for speaking. (Most of the parents have been barred from leaving the country.) He has been placed on leave by the university, whose interim president described it as essentially a step toward termination. In a motion asking the judge to modify Mr. Zadeh’s conditions of release, so that he could speak at conferences in Malaysia, Taiwan, Canada and France, Mr. Zadeh’s lawyers said that he had also lost three book contracts. (Most of the parents have been barred from leaving the country.)
According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Zadeh and his wife struggled to come up with the $100,000 they had agreed to pay as part of the arrangement, with Mr. Zadeh’s wife saying at one point that they were refinancing their house to make the payments.According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Zadeh and his wife struggled to come up with the $100,000 they had agreed to pay as part of the arrangement, with Mr. Zadeh’s wife saying at one point that they were refinancing their house to make the payments.
Prosecutors have accused Gregory Colburn, a radiation oncologist in Palo Alto, Calif., and his wife, Amy, of conspiring with Mr. Singer to cheat on their son’s SAT exam. One of their lawyers, Patric Hooper, said that the Colburns were innocent, but that Dr. Colburn’s career had already been severely damaged because of a chain of consequences that result when a doctor is charged with a crime. Prosecutors have accused Gregory Colburn, a radiation oncologist in Palo Alto, Calif., and his wife, Amy, of conspiring with Mr. Singer to cheat on their son’s SAT exam. One of their lawyers, Patric Hooper, said that Dr. Colburn’s career had already been severely damaged because of a chain of consequences that result when a doctor is charged with a crime.
Already, he said, a state licensing board had begun an investigation of Dr. Colburn. Dr. Colburn had to notify Medicare and Medicaid that he was under investigation — and they could suspend him if they chose to, Mr. Hooper said, which would make it very difficult to practice. He has also had to notify the hospitals where he is on the medical staff.Already, he said, a state licensing board had begun an investigation of Dr. Colburn. Dr. Colburn had to notify Medicare and Medicaid that he was under investigation — and they could suspend him if they chose to, Mr. Hooper said, which would make it very difficult to practice. He has also had to notify the hospitals where he is on the medical staff.
“His reputation is destroyed before he’s even given an opportunity to defend himself,” Mr. Hooper said. He said that Dr. Colburn had taken a leave of absence from his practice while he fights the charges. “His reputation is destroyed before he’s even given an opportunity to defend himself,” Mr. Hooper said.
One moment early on in the hearing highlighted another set of consequences, which none of the defendants have spoken about publicly yet — the potential damage to their relationships with their children.
Judge Kelley said that she had told a group of parents who appeared in court last week that they could not discuss the case with family members who were also defendants, or potential witnesses, except in the presence of a lawyer. But she said she would no longer impose that condition.
“I just don’t think that’s realistic,” the judge said. “And I don’t think it’s good for parents not to be able to talk to their children, for example, except in the presence of a lawyer.”
[Read more about how the authorities say the scheme worked, from bribes to doctored photos.][Read more about how the authorities say the scheme worked, from bribes to doctored photos.]
Other parents have been put on leave by their employers, or lost their jobs entirely.Other parents have been put on leave by their employers, or lost their jobs entirely.
Gordon Caplan, the co-chairman of the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, was placed on leave by the firm after he was accused of conspiring to cheat on his daughter’s ACT exam. He is also expected to appear in court on Wednesday. Gordon Caplan, a co-chairman of the law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, was placed on leave by the firm after he was accused of conspiring to cheat on his daughter’s ACT exam. He is also expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
William McGlashan, a major Silicon Valley investor who is charged with conspiring to cheat on his son’s ACT exam and also to bribe an official at U.S.C., either resigned from or was pushed out of his investment firm, TPG.William McGlashan, a major Silicon Valley investor who is charged with conspiring to cheat on his son’s ACT exam and also to bribe an official at U.S.C., either resigned from or was pushed out of his investment firm, TPG.
Mr. McGlashan has also had to cancel a planned spring break trip to Mexico with his wife and children. When Mr. McGlashan appeared in court last week, his lawyer argued that Mr. McGlashan did not represent a flight risk and should be allowed to make the trip with his family, which he said had been planned months before the charges were unveiled. Absent a flight risk, he said, denying Mr. McGlashan the vacation was merely punitive. Mr. McGlashan has also had to cancel a planned spring break trip to Mexico with his wife and children. When Mr. McGlashan appeared in court last week, his lawyer argued that Mr. McGlashan did not represent a flight risk and should be allowed to make the trip with his family, which he said had been planned months before the charges were unveiled.
The prosecution disagreed — and noted that Mr. McGlashan had two vacation homes he could travel to instead, one in Big Sky, Mont., worth $12 million, and another in Truckee, Calif. The judge ultimately did not allow Mr. McGlashan to go on the vacation to Mexico. The prosecution disagreed — and noted that Mr. McGlashan had two vacation homes he could travel to instead, one in Big Sky, Mont., worth $12 million, and another in Truckee, Calif. The judge ultimately did not allow Mr. McGlashan to go on the Mexico vacation.
One of the parents charged, Peter Jan Sartorio, of Menlo Park, Calif., has said in a filing that he intends to plead guilty. He is accused of paying Mr. Singer $15,000 to facilitate cheating on his daughter’s ACT exam.One of the parents charged, Peter Jan Sartorio, of Menlo Park, Calif., has said in a filing that he intends to plead guilty. He is accused of paying Mr. Singer $15,000 to facilitate cheating on his daughter’s ACT exam.
Parents, of course, are not the only ones who have faced consequences. Yale rescinded the admission of one student. U.S.C. has said it will reject applicants tied to the case and has informed some current students that they can’t register for classes until the school determines their degree of responsibility. Mr. McGlashan’s lawyers noted in a memorandum filed with the court that his son, a senior in high school, had withdrawn his college applications.Parents, of course, are not the only ones who have faced consequences. Yale rescinded the admission of one student. U.S.C. has said it will reject applicants tied to the case and has informed some current students that they can’t register for classes until the school determines their degree of responsibility. Mr. McGlashan’s lawyers noted in a memorandum filed with the court that his son, a senior in high school, had withdrawn his college applications.
While some parents have indicated that they will fight the charges, others are expected to plead guilty in the coming days. Two parents scheduled to appear on Wednesday, Jane Buckingham and Devin Sloane, filed motions seeking to reschedule their appearances. Both said that they were in discussions with the government to resolve the charges. Ms. Buckingham is accused of paying Mr. Singer $50,000 to have someone else take the ACT exam for her son. Mr. Sloane is accused of conspiring to bribe to have his son admitted to U.S.C. as a water polo recruit, even though he did not play water polo competitively.While some parents have indicated that they will fight the charges, others are expected to plead guilty in the coming days. Two parents scheduled to appear on Wednesday, Jane Buckingham and Devin Sloane, filed motions seeking to reschedule their appearances. Both said that they were in discussions with the government to resolve the charges. Ms. Buckingham is accused of paying Mr. Singer $50,000 to have someone else take the ACT exam for her son. Mr. Sloane is accused of conspiring to bribe to have his son admitted to U.S.C. as a water polo recruit, even though he did not play water polo competitively.
Their lawyers did not respond to requests for comment.Their lawyers did not respond to requests for comment.