Actress faces jail in college bribery case
BORIS Johnson may have had an “intimate relationship” with Jennifer Arcuri while London mayor, but will not face a criminal investigation over allegations he used his position to benefit the businesswoman, the police watchdog has said.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it “would have been wise” for Mr Johnson to have declared their “close association” as a conflict of interest.
The Prime Minister welcomed the news that “vexatious claims” he used his City Hall role to assist and reward the American had not led to an investigation for misconduct in public office.
But the London Assembly pledged to resume its own probe into allegations Ms Arcuri received thousands of pounds in public money and privileged access to three foreign trade trips led by the then-mayor.
IOPC director general Michael Lockwood said: “We found no evidence to indicate that Mr Johnson influenced the payment of any sponsorship monies to Ms Arcuri, or that he influenced or played an active part in securing her participation in trade missions.
“While there was no evidence that Mr Johnson influenced the payment of sponsorship monies or participation in trade missions, there was evidence to suggest that those officers making decisions about sponsorship monies and attendance on trade missions thought that there was a close relationship between Mr Johnson and Ms Arcuri, and this influenced their decision-making.” The IOPC recommended that City Hall considers whether Mr Johnson breached the code of conduct for failing to declare his relationship.
“Our review established there was a close association between
Mr Johnson and Ms Arcuri and there may have been an intimate relationship,” the watchdog said.
Under the Nolan Principles of Public Life, “it would have been wise for Mr Johnson to have declared this as a conflict of interest”, a statement added.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the months-long scoping exercise “was a waste of police time”.
“We welcome the fact that this politically motivated complaint has been thrown out,” he added.
“Such vexatious claims of impropriety in office were untrue and unfounded.”
Neither the PM nor Ms Arcuri have ever denied they were involved in an affair while he was mayor between 2008 and 2016.
After the IOPC ruling the London Assembly swiftly said it would resume its own investigation, which it paused when the watchdog launched its review.
Len Duvall, chairman of the
Greater London Authority’s oversight committee, said: “The IOPC was looking specifically at whether he committed a criminal offence. That’s not our remit and their decision doesn’t have any real bearing on our investigation, which will focus on his conduct as mayor of London.
“Our investigation will consider whether Boris Johnson conducted himself in a way that’s expected from anyone in that position.”
ACTRESS Lori Loughlin (below) and her fashion designer husband Mossimo Giannulli have agreed to plead guilty to charges in the college admissions bribery case and serve two months in prison.
The couple agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud in a plea agreement filed on Thursday in Boston.
The charge carries up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Prosecutors have agreed to dismiss charges of money laundering and federal programmes bribery.
“Under the plea agreements they will serve prison terms reflecting their respective roles in a conspiracy to corrupt the college admissions process and which are consistent with previous sentences in the case,” said US Attorney Andrew Lelling.