Lori Loughlin ‘feels like she’s got a valid defense’ & that ‘she won’t be found guilty’

Lori Loughlin at arrivals for Hallmark C...

Lori Loughlin has been headed for trial ever since she rejected the prosecutors’ initial plea deal and found herself facing more indictments in connection with Operation Varsity Blues, and her $500,000 scheme to get her dumb kids into USC. Considering the charges against her and the fact that the feds weren’t playing around with their multi-month investigation, I tend to believe that the federal prosecutors have a good case against Lori and her husband Mossimo. Is it all a sure thing? Of course not. There’s always a possibility that the evidence really isn’t that strong, or that the prosecution overcharged Lori and Mossimo. But here’s what really worries me: even if the feds have a strong case, Lori might still be able to use her “I’m just a clueless faith-based rich white mom who would do anything for my children!” defense and it could work. Lori apparently thinks it will work.

Attorneys for Lori Loughlin and husband Mossimo Giannulli believe they have a good chance of being acquitted if they face trial after being charged in the college admissions scandal, a source close to the actress tells PEOPLE.

“The more that [the attorneys] look at the alleged evidence against them, the better they feel about the case,” says the source. “Everyone is feeling more and more confident that this could end well for them.”

The insider, who speaks with the family regularly, tells PEOPLE that Loughlin wants to put the entire case behind her. “A trial drags things out,” says the source, “and she would like to move forward, which she can’t do until it goes to trial. But still, she feels like she’s got a valid defense, and that when all the evidence comes out, that she won’t be found guilty.”

Going to trial could also salvage her reputation, says the source. “Lori feels like so much damage has been done publicly that the only way for her to counter it is to fight this case in court,” the source previously told PEOPLE. “She feels like once all the evidence is presented, that people will understand how things happened.”

[From People]

The privilege of truly believing in and counting on your privilege to get you out of federal crimes… it’s like a snake eating itself. Privilege atop of privilege, and Lori really deeply understands that she can play Mrs. Hallmark-Faith-Based-White-Mom and there will be a few people on the jury who find her sympathetic. I hope the prosecution is prepared for that. I hope they make it about the smart, accomplished kids who could have gone to USC in her daughters’ place.

Lori Loughlin is seen out amidst the college bribery scandal

Photos courtesy of Backgrid and Avalon Red.

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44 Responses to “Lori Loughlin ‘feels like she’s got a valid defense’ & that ‘she won’t be found guilty’”

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  1. ariel says:

    Defense: rich white women are not held accountable for actual federal crimes.
    She is probably right, she will probably do zero jail time.
    And it makes me sick.
    Somehow, I take this all very personally.
    Though, I graduated from college in 1994, and I do not have kids, so this is no way effected me.

    • Giddy says:

      I do have kids and we sweated through their college admissions. They have all graduated now, but I easily remember those nightmare days waiting for the mailman. Pro tip: if it’s a thick envelope, they got in. If it’s just a business-looking letter, they didn’t. So much stress.

      • Kristic says:

        We just sweated through our daughter’s application to multiple schools two years ago. She worked so hard and I guess I realized that there may have been some legacy admissions but I thought the rest were based on merit and building a diverse student body. Everything worked out — and most college admission notices come electronically now!

    • Char says:

      She’s white, blonde and rich, she won’t be punished.

      • Arpeggi says:

        So is Martha Stewart and she still went to jail (and turned out more fun when she started hanging out with Snoop Dog)

      • Skhan says:

        They may make an example out of her.

    • pottymouth pup says:

      rich, white, “Christian,” women. I guarantee you that people like her (and whoever the hell supports her) would be spouting off all sorts of BS & dragging out certain tropes if the person accused of this was a minority or a white person who isn’t Christian

  2. Elkie says:

    She really is going to go for the Donald Trump Junior-patented, “I’m literally too dumb to realise that anything I did was illegal” defence, isn’t she?

    • Arpeggi says:

      Yep! And in a way, I guess she is. The thing though, is that such defence can’t work once you’re in court even if claiming you didn’t know it was illegal can lead to a less severe sentence in some cases. Actually, such a defence would pretty much be an admission of guilt, no?

  3. ME says:

    Federal prosecutors usually only move forward with solid cases so I don’t think it will be an issue of evidence but my faith in jurors/judges has definitely been diminished since some of these ridiculous non-sentences. I can only hope that Lori and daughters arrogance will be a factor in the decision.

    • Original Jenns says:

      This exactly. The Feds have a solid conviction case. Whether the jury is smart enough not to fall for this is an entirely different concern.

      • holly hobby says:

        Well here’s the thing. This case affects everyone. Her daughters cheated someone who deserved to be at USC of their slots. Anyone who’s been through the college admission process won’t take kindly to what they did. I doubt there are very many who will let her slide.

        This isn’t a case of sticking to the libs or feds. If you have kids or know of someone with kids, it wouldn’t react positively to their shenanigans. She might as well ask for a bench trial.

    • minx says:

      Exactly. She’s dreaming.

  4. My3cents says:

    This is my
    Entitled rich bitches going to jail
    Watching sweatshirt

  5. ME says:

    She’s rich, famous, and White. She probably thought the odds of her being punished for doing anything illegal were very minimum…and most times they are…but this time I think this b*tch is going down.

    • Lady D says:

      She’s not that famous though. I personally never heard of her before this fiasco. Admittedly I watch very little TV, but I still don’t think her “I’m too famous for jail” defense is going to work.

  6. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    I’m being naive, I know, but FBI raided someone’s house for this very crime. I believe there’s a uni squad somewhere that found celebrities to target for this specific and prolific type of bribery and fraud. I’m hoping they’re truly serious about making this crime obsolete through Lori’s incarceration. But then again, I’m jonesing for a certain American leader to wear orange jumpsuits. I won’t hold my breath.

  7. barbwire says:

    who knows, maybe trump will give her a presidential pardon..

  8. Lila says:

    I do think the Zhao and Guo instances are going to help Lori figure out how viable ignorance is as a defense. People that haven’t been charged yet with anything, that are coming forward and saying they thought they were making charitable donations and were duped…I can see her trying to ride those coattails.

    • TQB says:

      I’m sure she’ll try, but there’s a very obvious distinction in the evidence that’s led prosecutors not to charge Zhao and Guo; they’ve got stuff on Lori (e.g. the fake crew pictures) that show she didn’t think she was just helping build a new library.

  9. InVain says:

    Sorry. I read “valid” as “vapid.”

  10. LondonLook says:

    Delusion is a beautiful thing.

  11. Thaisajs says:

    Let’s be clear: she’s an actress of dubious talent of a certain age. Even if she is acquitted, which is a big, big IF, she may find it hard to find more work in the future. OJ got acquitted too, and I (along with many others) still think he’s guilty. Her crime isn’t really comparable to what I believe he did, but she still cheated and used her privilege to get her spoiled kids into college. I don’t care what a jury says, that’s not okay.

  12. Enough S Enough says:

    I’ll put it out there again.

    A judge out for *justice* and not mere vengeance should decree that she & her husband pay for full college tuition & board for at least a dozen eligible low-income students. Now. Starting this upcoming academic year, not spread out over many years.

    They spent half a million to bribe. They should be charged several times that much to help.

    • whatWHAT? says:

      yeah, this is what I had said early on, too.

      HEAVY fines, establishment of a scholarship (or, more than one) that they are required to fund/contribute to every year for a designated number of years (or, in perpetuity) that is for less fortunate/lower income kids, and community service tutoring or somehow working with these same kids.

      • Enough S Enough says:

        People are so into the “punish” mindset, there’s never any serious thought about how something horrible can turn into a positive.

        BTW, I’m not saying they don’t deserve jail time or should merely be allowed to buy their way out. They’re criminals.

        I’m saying the bigger point is to turn their cheating/criminality around on them and make them subsidize the same deserving students their bribes screwed.

        Thanks whatWHAT?

      • BeanieBean says:

        I wouldn’t want a scholarship with their name on it.

    • Maria says:

      A dozen? With how much they’re worth? You have to be kidding, even accounting for USC’s costs and the living expenses.

      She didn’t want a plea bargain. So this is what she gets. There’s nothing about vengeance here.

      • Enough S Enough says:

        I have never said she doesn’t deserve time behind bars.

        I’m talking about the bigger picture beyond sticking her in stir.

        1 year at an Ivy League school for one student is about $250K per.

        I think 10 or a dozen of those students having their tuition paid by this awful family is very fair and absolutely just. Approximately $2.5-$3.5M million.

        Although I’d also add housing which would probably bring it up to somewhere between $5-7 million.

      • Maria says:

        The bigger picture is that the educational qualities at these places is severely tainted by the crap that parents like Lori Loughlin do. She just got caught, is all. A massive overhaul of what happens in the admissions system is in order, I think 20 years in prison for this woman would be helpful in doing that. And ten or so students is not nearly enough, by any means.

      • SamC says:

        I realize it’s not the point of the story/comment, but Ivy League school’s are nowhere near $250,000 annually, even with fees, books, room, board and travel home for breaks, closer to 1/3 that amount.

      • Enough S Enough says:

        SamC – My apologies. I blame lack of sleep. I meant 4 years.

        Tuition for a year is around $50K give or take a bit.

        And again, I have no problem with locking her up. But I’m looking for at least a helpful move in the right direction.

        If this happened to everyone who bribed their kids’ schools, you’d see an influx of deserving students that would be a move in the right direction for private higher education.

        I never believe that you negate a positive idea because it can’t fix a problem 100%.

        I believe in doing what you can today to help people being screwed by the system. And as that starts you improve the bigger picture, you build on it.

  13. S says:

    Lori Loughlin also thought she wouldn’t be caught, she wasn’t really doing anything wrong and she wouldn’t be fired by Hallmark and Netflix after she was arrested … So not really sure that Lori Loughlin’s “thoughts” are particularly indicative of reality.

  14. asdfa says:

    I love to hate her

  15. Jay says:

    Hey, federal criminal defense attorney here. It is a certainty the USAO overcharged. It is also highly likely their “evidence” is strong. I put evidence in quotes bc evidence is what a judge determines to be evidence at trial. Right now it’s mere discovery but obviously evidence is used colloquially.

  16. Ashipper says:

    I just don’t see how you can claim you didn’t know you were doing anything wrong when you had your daughter take fake pictures of being on a crew team. My daughter is in 11th grade and we have no plans to forge evidence of extracurricular activities that she doesn’t participate in. It seems pretty obvious that that would be wrong.

  17. Maria says:

    I despise every member of this family, including the children who knew about this. I hope she gets 20 years.

  18. Beech says:

    How many times has she been featured in People? Potential jurors reading People magazine that appeal to mini van moms? Jury selection should be interesting. And what about her husband?

  19. noway says:

    Please as much as I don’t like this white privileged woman and her spawn, and I wish she would get punished. I think there’s a good chance she gets off, and not because she is dumb, which she is, or entirely because of white privilege, although it’s a big part. Aside from the bias in your favor, white privilege also gets you money to buy good lawyers.

    There is a defense strategy which isn’t I’m just plain stupid and didn’t know, but a bit more nuanced. A lot of girls college sports are different than boys, especially lower tier sports like crew. A lot of the sports don’t have the interest from the girls in the sport. You could be just good, or from another sport, or join the party late on your sport and still be recruited in some women’s sports. Just to make this point, apparently, there was a poster put up this week by the new USC crew coach looking for women rowers for the team. It said no rowing experience necessary. Not a smart thing to put up now. Granted they put it up for people at the school now, but is it so far fetched to believe a team which is advertising for anybody now would not help you get into the school beforehand if you had the least bit of interest. I mean the problem is colleges take sport recruits with much lower test scores and grades. My child’s friend is a recruit for a bigger sport going to UVA. In order to keep his offer he only needed to score 900 on his SAT’s. Now who other than sports recruits gets into UVA with a 900 score. The out of state average was 1475. Now Lori’s kids did lie about their achievements in the sports, but USC is private and that’s similar to lying on a job application. Generally you just get thrown out or fired, not arrested.

    Now I didn’t read Lori’s communications with the “college cheat” guy owner, so not sure if they are a bit loose on the language. I did feel like Felicity’s had an out in hers as the language wasn’t as precise about the actual offer, but I think she has a conscience and confessed. The college cheat guy owner was bilking out a couple of parents of millions, especially one from China. They thought they were giving to a charity. They had no idea it was to bribe people, and apparently the FBI didn’t think so either and didn’t arrest them. This guy, who is their lynchpin, isn’t a great witness and as sleazy as you get. Plus the system is messed up. The reality is they didn’t take a deserving persons position, but just another kid who was just as wacked out in their approach to getting in. The fact the prosecutors keep presenting the deserving person missed out on an opportunity just means they don’t understand the system and are going for the PR channel, but the reality is the judge probably will get the system, and it does leave an out for them.