Actress Lori Loughlin is out of jail after facing a judge for the first time over charges in a sprawling college admissions scam officials have dubbed “Operation Varsity Blues.” A judge in Los Angeles set bond for the "Full House" star at one-million-dollars, which she has posted.
As we told you yesterday, Loughlin and her designer husband Mossimo Giannulli are accused of paying 500-grang to get their daughters into USC as recruits for the school's rowing team, even though neither participated in the sport. They’re among 50 people – including Felicity Huffman – also charged in the scandal. Initially directed to give up her passport, the judge relented to allow Loughlin to work in Vancouver – where she’s currently shooting.
Meanwhile…many have been wondering what Loughlin's daughters have been up to since the scandal broke. According to TMZ, Olivia Jade Giannullihas been spending spring break in the Bahamas with the daughter of USC chairman Rick Caruso…on the family's yacht. The young women have apparently been friends for a while. Once news broke of the charges, word is that Olivia decided to return home. No word on her sister, Isabella Rose.
- One of the questions on everyone’s minds (aside from making plenty of jokes): How the heck did the Feds figure this out in the first place? By accident. Apparently, agents were working an unrelated securities fraud case, when they received a tip about $400-thousand bribe of a coach at Yale. Once the coach was “contacted” by authorities, the chips began falling.
- What about the students that benefitted from their parents’ shenanigans? Their future remains up in the air. William Rick Singer, the mastermind of the operation, says he assisted more than 750 families in their quest for faked greatness. The schools themselves are trying to sort out the best way to proceed – but so far, they appear to be taking a “case by case” approach. Not so for the coaches and other staff involved. At last check, a number of them have already been fired.
- As for Loughlin's future with the Hallmark Channel - where she's currently one of their most active stars - that's also up in the air. “Crown Media Family Networks is aware of the situation," spokeswoman Pam Slaytells the "New York Daily News" in a statement. "And is monitoring developments as they arise."
Source: Variety