By the time Felicity Huffman finally received her 14-day federal prison sentence, many of us already believed that she was just going to get a slap on the wrist anyway. She cut a plea deal early and admitted to her crimes repeatedly, although she did try to argue that she was simply going overboard for her “severely learning disabled” daughters. Anyway, Felicity eventually had to go to prison and she did just that on October 15th, when she began her sentence at a low-security prison in Dublin, California. Guess what? She didn’t even have to do the full 14 days.
Actress Felicity Huffman was released from federal prison in Northern California on Friday after serving under two weeks for her role in a massive college admissions scandal. Huffman began her 14-day sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution, a low-security prison with approximately 1,200 female inmates, in Dublin, California, east of San Francisco, on Oct. 15.
Huffman was set to be released from prison Sunday, according to prison records, even though that was the 13th day of her sentence. She was released Friday as is normal policy for inmates who are set to be released on weekends, according to a prison official.
It was always going to feel like Felicity largely skated through that, especially when it was clear that prosecutors were basically only asking for her to do *some* prison time to save face. The 14-day sentence was a joke, and letting her out after 11 days feels like another joke. But whatever – it’s over now. And now that Felicity is free, people are lining up to get Felicity’s first TV interview:
Felicity Huffman is one of the most sought after actresses in Hollywood now that she’s out of prison … but the people seeking her out are major TV anchors angling for the first interview. Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … before Felicity went to FCI Dublin to serve her 11-day sentence, she was approached by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, CBS’s Gayle King, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, and ABC’s George Stephanopoulos … all of whom pitched why they were the best choice. We’re told the CBS pitch was that their morning show is less “salacious” than ABC or NBC.
We’re told Felicity took it all in but hasn’t decided who, if anyone, she feels comfortable with to sit down and talk. In fact, we’re told there’s a very good chance she won’t do any interview.
If I had done something wrong and walked away from 11 days in prison somewhat humbled, who would I give my first interview to? Probably… Anderson Cooper. But Felicity will probably want to talk to a woman if she does talk. Ooh, maybe she’ll hold out for Diane Sawyer. Diane still does those interviews for ABC specials. I could see that. But what’s more likely is that Felicity will wait until she has something to promote. Like… a book? I wonder if anyone has approached her about doing a book.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
Eleven days out of a fourteen days sentence is pretty normal, for someone of any race or background. Not understanding how the justice system works leads many to comment from a place of ignorance.
Not many people do understand how the justice system works.
Because its NOT a justice system at all…we have a LEGAL system, not a justice system….
Yes. The proper term is the Judicial System, or the Legal System.
“Justice?” Ehhh… maybe….. sometimes……… ehhh.
I thought there wasn’t supposed to be any time reduction in a FEDERAL prison…? I don’t remember where I heard/read that though.
Still, 11 days for tax fraud as well as the scamming… sorry, but 11 days in THE CUSHIEST Club Fed is not enough.
I don’t think Huffman committed tax fraud, pretty sure that was Aunt Becky
Yeah, I also think that Huffman wasn’t up on tax fraud charges.
But, the punishment for tax fraud should be monetary.
She’s not robbing packies. Prison/jail is inappropriate for nonviolent offenders. Yes, this means the rich can get away with what the poor can’t. But that has always been the case.
The prison industrial complex in the US is STUPID. It’s a huge, abusive scam. It’s sadistic.
These people broke the law, took advantage, and they should pay. They should PAY. Give them huge fines. Make them fund scholarships.
What does jail do?
Like, was Felicity going to go scam someone else if they didn’t lock her up? There’s too much incarceration and not enough rehabilitation.
I blame the Puritans. The US has always had a judgmental, puritan culture, even since the first few rebellious Brits came over here and encroached on the natives. Axxholes.
Anyway. The focus on punishment only furthers the vicious circle.
Make the rich people PAY. With their riches. To help “those less fortunate.”
Putting nonviolent people in prison only enriches the prison industrial complex and does nothing to improve things for society.
Most prisons in the US are privately run businesses!
Preach it, @some chick – I’m with you
Some chick -You are right on the money ~
Compared to others in the case Felicity’s crime was minor and she pleaded quickly. White collar crimes usually have lesser sentences.
Based on how she handled the case, I don’t think Felicity will be doing a big interview and a book. She seems really low key and embarrassed about it and probably wants to forget it happened. Lori Laughlin will probably be everywhere.
Aunt Becky has to stay relevant somehow. *eyeroll*
She’s A-List so we’ll all be waiting with baited breath for all of her interviews and books.
I hope she does stay quiet about it. I find those crying for sympathy interviews very embarissing. And I honestly do not care about what she has to say or the mental gymnastics to justify her actions.
About the book, non american here, would she be allowed to profit off her crime?
I am an American and also wander if she CAN do a book,because IMO she should not profit financially from book and or interview.There are certain times when a book isn’t allowed because they are not supposed to profit from criminal acts.
I thought that convicted criminals can’t profit from their crimes- meaning a book deal that discusses the why behind her crime would be forbidden?
I assume if she does do a book, it will be part of her rehabilitation strategy and all the funds will go to scholarships / charity. The ‘profiting from her crimes’ therefore won’t be relevant if that is the law.
I don’t think she’ll do an interview. I think she’ll take 6 months off looking for work and then get back into her work. She paid 5- figures for extra time on SAT, she pled guilty and got it over with. Most don’t spend whole time in jail with good behavior and overcrowding so not surprising.
Lori however she’ll have an interview, a book, a Hallmark movie special. She’ll be richer than ever because girl has no shame and doesn’t understand why paying 6- figures to scam a school is wrong because her angels are so precious.
I don’t think she’ll do an interview either, and she probably shouldn’t. Just move on.
I don’t see any benefit of an interview. It won’t get her acting jobs and she does not want to be the face of parents trying to cheat the system. I sure hope there is little need to use quotes from Harvey Levin’s TMZ again. Harvey Levin may or may not currently be in favor at the White House but in the past he was a very misogynist friend of Trumps. TMZ helped do damage control after the “grab them by the p****” tape was aired.
Yup, Harvey Levin is misogynistic slime
Lets be honest, her crime was relatively minor – even if looking from a pute dollar amount. $15K is nothing compared to 500K plus a whole lot of fraud. So I’m not too fussed about this.
She confessed and apologized, so the easy sentence is not a big deal.
Lori should get at lest a couple of years. And shame. Lots of shame.
She also seems to regret it a lot. That goes a long way, as opposed to Becky’s tragic defense and denial.
Agreed. Plus she still has to do a ton of community service, right? I feel like that’s harder than a cushy prison. Being in the community, working with people who’ve never had your privilege…even if she’s just stuffing envelopes at a non profit somewhere, it’s a new world for her and a good learning experience.
Yet there are black mothers in jail for 5+ years for doing much much less in the name of getting their kids into school.
Yes, and thats horrible. But asking for Huffman to get more time seems like the wrong thing. Asking/demanding that all the women of color get less, ie the same as white women would, is the right cause imho.
Becky however should get lots more, what she did was way worse.
Both of these are minor crimes to me, and this is almost like prosecuting the hooker while the pimp gets off scott free. College admission has never been fair, and now it’s rigged even more. It’s not like a deserving person would have gotten their spot it would be another rigged application just one which might be legal. Trust me the system blows, and with online applications it has gotten even worse. My favorite is some schools let you self report grades tests etc. Do they all verify? If you have enough money I bet some don’t? It was bad when I applied a few decades ago, but this system is crazy. Plus the amount of money spent on college counselors, application counselors and editors, test preparation, and the crap with recruiting in sports is beyond nuts. It doesn’t surprise me that some parents cheat the system, thinking it is normal. Granted they should still be punished, but what about the colleges and the system in general.
Felicitiy’s offense although not as much money to me seemed worse. She’s forging a test grade with someone pretending to be her daughter. The college sport recruiting offenses seems the college should share more of the blame. How hard is it to check all recruits actually play the sport. In the scheme of things they don’t have that many sports recruits and they can’t do that. I’m sure they are really looking at their grades and application then too.
Now since the colleges are still using standardized test scores through this easily rigged system it surprises me a lot. My daughter who got a good SAT score, said the proctors at those things are just awful. What do you expect for $10 an hour. People are cheating, taking extra time on sections, using calculators on sections they shouldn’t all the time. Proctors say nothing. Plus, my favorite was a set of identical twins come in dressed the same. She knew them and didn’t know which was which. The proctor just let them in with who they said they were based on the picture they submitted. I’m guessing one is smarter than the other, and since most schools don’t require all scores to be sent the smart ones scores were used. Points for creativity at least. This doesn’t even go to the gender and racial bias on these standardized tests which has been proven over the years. Wonder why they aren’t a good indicator for college success. Sorry just venting.
I don’t think Felicity will do a interview. I think she is ashamed. As it does seem like she didn’t think her daughter would do well enough so she cheated, not sure how she would spin that and if I was her daughter I’d want her to shut up about it.
I think it depends on her relationship with her daughters. From all accounts, they’re very angry with her. I think if she were to go for the publicity, and force the coverage of her to be spot lit instead of eventually fading, it would damage those relationships further. It will be interesting to see what she chooses to do.
Just here to remind everyone that a black mother is doing years in prison for falsifying an address so her child could get into a “better” school. Which invites a larger commentary on how the US public school system fails POC.
I don’t care if we never hear from Huffman again. Bye.
Thank you ENN.
Glad one person on this thread pointed out there are completely different outcomes for Black and white people under the American “justice” system.
If you’re referring to Tanya McDowell, she had additional charges after being charged with falsifying her address to send her son to a better school & she had a criminal record. Felicity didn’t have one. I think that 14 days was a ridiculous sentence…& I do agree if Felicity had been black that sentence would have been longer. You’re arguing with a public perception that white collar crime is okay while drug crimes, violent crimes, robbery crimes etc committed by poorer communities is not. All crime should be treated equally & whatever the color of the defendant the same. That’s not how the justice system works, unfortunately. Many people who can’t afford adequate representation are denied the same treatment that Felicity was or Martha Stewart was. They had the benefit of being both white & wealthy. That is what the justice system is slanted towards to. It’s better than what it was but it’s no where near equal.
I don’t agree that all crime should be treated equally. Cheating your kid’s way into school should equal fines and a criminal record plus community service. Most drug “crimes” (posession) should be diverted to treatment, community service, and fines. Major drug and violent offenses need jail time to protect the community.
@purplehaze
I’m sorry but that isn’t exactly true. Tanya was given 5 years for the larceny (stealing school?) to run concurrently with the drug charge. My point is that even if she was able to have the drug charge set aside, she would still have 5 years on the school crime.
She’s a homeless woman trying to survive by selling dime bags, not some drug kingpin. The fact that people are trying to justify the differences in their sentences by citing these other crimes is indicative of the problem. 5 years versus 14 days is objectively outrageous.
We will never change our criminal justice system if we aren’t able to speak honestly and critically about it.
100%
This isnt entirely true
Thanks for posting. I would love to see Felicity turn this around and start using her story and platform to advocate for exactly the people you speak of. That would be the awesomest.
Thats a great idea Bananas. Huffman could actually turn this into a cause for equal treatment in the justice system. If she’s smart. Big if.
State charges versus federal charges.
I’m not saying that the mother wasn’t treated unfairly but these two women weren’t in the same justice system at all on the basis of the different crimes they committed.
African Americans are disproportionately targeted by the criminal justice system in this country. White and wealthy people often have the means to game the system in ways that are not available to poor minority communities. Regardless of individual cases, this is true on a macro level. So quibbling about whether one person in a desperate situation deserved five years (with additional drugs charges that her lawyer argued may have been entrapment) or some rich and inordinately egotistical person like Felicity Huffman deserves eleven days (!) is tripe. We all know the reality.
Well lightpurple is correct it was state vs federal. So the sentencing guidelines do differ on that alone. As I stated previously, Tanya had a prior criminal record, plus while out on bail for falsifying her address, she was arrested on additional charges. Yes, her attorney argued entrapment & if I’m not mistaken a plea deal was offered because of it. What got Tanya 5 years was most likely her prior record. Judges sentence more harshly for defendants when they’re repeat offenders. But I don’t disagree that the justice system is flawed. Felicity should have received more time than she received.
“African Americans are disproportionately targeted by the criminal justice system in this country.”
ONCE MORE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK.
ONCE MORE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK + 1000000, @Enn
WORD.
I’m with John Legend on this. This woman should not be put in prison, but neither should the Varsity Blues people. We need to stop putting a lot of non-violent criminals in jail, and we need to have other forms of restitution which isn’t just money. Another reason a lot of African Americans are in prison is cause they couldn’t pay their fines on petty crimes. This way people who don’t have the money aren’t forced to be in jail they have other alternatives to pay it off. Plus I think the punishment should fit as some restitution for the crime. A lot of these parents who paid to cheat their kid into schools are smart and have degrees themselves. They should be forced to help underprivileged children in various programs. Not necessarily Felicity and Lori, as not sure about their education, but they could help in some way directly too. Drug addicts should work in drug treatment places etc. Now we just have a prison which some are run by corporations and it just make money for others, plus not helping our society as a whole.
Yes, and the Universities involved should get bad press and heavy fines as well.
Sorry, have to disagree here.
In this case, for the kind of person who can say, drop $400-$500K just to get their kid INTO a school, I think some time in prison is one of the only things for them to really (maybe) get that they committed a crime. Even having pled guilty, one of the parents still shelled out for a report submitted to the judge about how his difficult childhood made him an easy target to be manipulated into participating in the scam. (His childhood apparently didn’t prevent him from being successful in business though.). The judge expected others to do the same thing (likely with the same court consultant), and cautioned them it wasn’t going to affect her sentencing.
All of the parents sentenced so far are receiving fines and community service in addition to prison time. For people at this level, if you’ve already paid out $400K for the scam, a $100K fine likely isn’t that big a deal. And, if there’s a way to game the community service requirement to make it as easy as possible on themselves, I’m sure they’ll do it.
i think Huffman and Macy and their team dealt with this whole situation in a show-must-go-on matter. They were fast to court, fast to settle, and now they just are going to keep working. All better, nothing to see here!!!!
Before ahe was arrested, Huffman and Macy were a Hollywood liberal power couple. The only way I would pay attention to either of them again is if they funded a campaign to free the black Texas woman who is in prison because she wanted her kid in a good school.
I would be shocked if she gave an interview. There is no reason to “get her story out there.” She pled, served her sentence and seems truly sorry and mortified about the whole thing. She only owes an explanation to her family.
Agreed.
She’s going to go home, keep quiet, and work at repairing the damage this did to her family.
Are her daughters really learning disabled?
IDK anything about her daughters, but when I was in high school it was pretty normal for kids from more affluent families to suddenly be diagnosed with learning disabilities just before the SAT.
IDK anything about her daughters, but when I was in high school it was pretty normal for kids from more affluent families to suddenly be diagnosed with learning disabilities just before the SAT.
Nah. I think is really questionable that both have learning disabilities. And someone else commented that her daughters are mad at her.
I wasnt sure if it was a fact or just something CB threw in as a dig.
I’d skip it & get to the community service.
She paid her due to society, should she be asked to not be released because a POC somewhere got a longer sentence? And I’m a POC btw. The fact that Eva Longoria and Alfre Woodard defended her makes me think she’s not the horrible clueless white stereotype (cough Lori) and I think she deserves a second chance. Again, it was the women that became the face of this scandal when they were plenty of men too.
No she shouldnt. But if she has half a brain she realizes her privelige here, and starts doing work to help other women in legal trouble etc.
Not a POC somewhere, POC everywhere.
Nobody is asking for her to ask to stay in prison longer. The point is that getting 14 days shouldn’t be an option for her since it isn’t for POC.
Felicity had a good team helping her with this. She pled fast. Acted remorseful (she may be remorseful but she definitely made an effort to exude remorse). She said the right things. And finally she managed to get papped in JAIL looking sufficiently “humbled.” Que her quiet career resumption in just a bit. Lori is going to be loud and messy with tears of white privilege and drama. Lori may have gotten good advice but she sure didn’t take it. She is going to be a hot mess and her actions make me not one but sorry for her. No way she will get the same sentence as an African American in the same circumstances but she will get something and she deserves it. She committed a crime and there is no way she didn’t know it as a crime
Agree with all of this. FH’s saga is over now and LL’s hasn’t even begun. It’s going to be a mess and she and her dopey husband have only themselves to blame.
Ugh sorry for my typing I haven’t had coffee yet
Is she really that A lister / sought after actress?
Other than Desperate Housewives for which she made bank, she’s never been that famous. Yeah, she was nominated for an Oscar while she was riding the housewives wave. But what has she done after the show is over?
Basically this is the most relevant she’s been in years and she’ll take advantage of it.
She’ll be everywhere in the next couple of years.
She was nominated for an Emmy in 2015, 2016, and 2017 (for American Crime, a show that I loved.)
So yes, she’s still relevant.
She’s talented, well-liked in Hollywood, and the wife of another talented, well-liked actor. She will work as long as she wants.
It still galls the s**t out of me that William H Macy wasn’t also charged.
She wrote the checks, agree that he was very very likely involved, but the Feds were going for rock solid proof. And it’s better to have one , not two, parents with diminished employment prospects. And I bet he also blames her for getting them involved with Singer as he seems like that type, yes, very likely he knew.
I hope she just stays quiet and does not do an interview. Anything would seem like trying to profit from her crime, either financially or through trying to repair her image for work.
She should keep her mouth shut and lay low. I don’t give 2 shits about what this entitled lunatic has to say about her experience basically getting away with fraud.
Agreed.
I doubt she is going to do anything, except start on her community service. Her daughters are mad at her. Her reputation is in tatters. No reason to do a woe is me interview. There is no wow is me. She was guilty.
It would be preferred for her to keep her mouth shut and move on. I know I don’t want to see anyone rewarded with a book deal, interview, etc. But we know the world doesn’t work that way.
I agree. I think it is pathetic the way they’re automatically pushed for a book deal, or the rights to their life stories. You’re 100% on the mark, that it is like they’re getting rewarded for their crimes. It’s totally BS. Their real punishments should be that they don’t get jack sh*t for their stories. Nobody, should be offering them anything, because honestly, they don’t deserve anything for what they have done. That would probably be worst for them not getting paid for this criminal activities.
Why does she have to be interviewed or have a book at all. Just move on.
I don’t think she’ll do an interview and will lay low for a bit. She handled this well with pleading guilty and looking remorseful and doing her time. She’s paid the 30k fine and still has community service to be completed. I think because of the way she handled it she will fair much better then Aunt Becky. Be interesting to see how that plays out and what the outcome will be.
I remain feeling sorry for her daughters in this, they will be mocked anytime they do anything ‘oh did your mom get u this job?’
In retrospect this will be seen as the smartest move she could have made. Plead guilty, act remorseful, do a few days, walk away. Don’t do an interview, pretend it didn’t happen. Let Aunt Becky do the sellout. She’s going to have to, because she’ll be going to jail for way longer and she’ll have major lawyers to pay.
Hear, hear. ^^^^ THIS.
👏👏👏👏👏
Apparently the prosecution wanted her to serve a year, but probation services sentencing report said 14 days. So the theory goes that prosecutors are pushing Lori Loughlin by adding more charges in hopes that she will take a plea instead of going to trial because it will be embarrassing if she does and then gets a short sentence. This is according to TMZ, so grain of salt maybe.
Of course she’ll do an interview and probably a book too. She’s probably not thinking about exonerating herself. Huffman is probably still respected in the business and she IS married to William H. Macy, one of the best character actors working today. So SHE’S fine.
But Huffman is going to need to clear her daughter’s reputation. Most people think that her daughter is a spoiled, lazy, untalented, girl who used the privilege her parents worked for along with good old fashioned White privilege to grab something she didn’t deserve. Huffman is going to have to give an Academy-Award winning performance, claiming that her daughter is learning disabled and how sowwwwwwwwy the whole family is. Then she’s going to make a sizable donation to some worthy cause.
I don’t think that many people feel that Felicity’s daughter is privileged in this situation, or spoiled and lazy. It’s clear in all of the press coverage that this was Felicity’s idea. Poor girl is likely mortified that her mother had so little confidence in her.
No, she should not do an interview. If I were her lawyer, I would advise her not to under any circumstances.
For starters, she’s on probation and I imagine that “getting her story out” would not go down well with either her probation officer, or the millions of inmates who are serving much harsher sentences for lesser crimes. There are juveniles convicted for spray painting graffiti who are doing more time than Felicity Huffman. And her’s involved bribery and mail fraud, which usually carries a 30 year sentence.
She’d be better off to continue doing what she’s been doing: Keeping a low profile and finishing her probation and community service. And when/if she goes back to work, just keep her head down and avoid appearing anymore privileged and entitled than she already is.
Nope, no interview. Her kids still need to be accepted to college, attend, and finish. Her continuing to receive any attention around this hurts her kids the most. Felicity is a good actress so she will work again, no problem. But her kids will continue to suffer from the fallout if she’s not careful. No one will ever believe they were meritorious in the admissions process, least of all them, wherever they do attend college.
Thats white nice 🙂
Qwhite surprising. There really are two different justice systems in the world.