‘Varsity Blues’ parents get access to docs
Prosecutors have agreed to give actress Lori Loughlin and other “Varsity Blues” parents access to more court documents ahead of a deadline to file motions to dismiss their charges, after being accused of misconduct last week in the blockbuster trial.
A letter filed late Tuesday evening by the government answered over a dozen requests by defendants, appearing to quell some tensions after Loughlin’s counsel last week accused prosecutors of unfairly withholding potentially exonerating evidence.
The document in question, handwritten notes by scandal mastermind Rick Singer detailing his interaction with FBI agents, drew concern from a federal judge in a status conference.
Parents “make very serious Brady violation allegations and charges of prosecutorial misconduct,” federal Judge Nathaniel Gorton told the sides last week in U.S. District Court.
Prosecutors Tuesday gave defendants FBI and IRS interviews with employees of the University of Southern California, where parents including Loughlin are accused of making large payments to secure fake athletic admission spots for their children.
The prosecutors also pledged to later hand over documents from two unnamed cooperating witnesses and another the government expects to testify at the October trial. Emails not restricted by attorneyclient privilege and Singer’s additional handwritten notes will also be disclosed soon, prosecutors wrote.
The move comes less than two weeks before parents can file motions to dismiss their indictments, suppress evidence or sanction prosecutors following last week’s bombshell accusation by defense attorneys. The agreement also appears to clear some hurdles ahead of the case’s final status conferences before jury selection begins in September.
An inquiry Tuesday evening to Singer’s attorney was not returned. Prosecutors and parents fighting fraud, bribery and money laundering charges are not due back in court until May.