Strange new twist in college bribery scandal

LOS ANGELES — A new prosecution filing in the college admissions cheating case targets defence claims by actress Lori Loughlin and her fashion designer husband Mossimo Giannulli, who are accused of paying $500,000 to get their two daughters into the University of Southern California in the guise of crew team members, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

Hundreds of pages of emails, transcripts of recorded calls and financial and academic records were filed Tuesday in response to claims that prosecutors withheld evidence favourable to the couple and the couple's contention that they believed the money would go toward legitimate donations to USC.

Loughlin and Giannulli are among dozens of wealthy parents who were charged with participating in schemes organized by college admissions consultant William “Rick” Singer to bribe coaches and university insiders or cheat on entrance exams. The cases are being prosecuted in federal court in Boston.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Rosen wrote that the couple “specifically rejected this 'legitimate' approach,” and pointed to emails exchanged between Giannulli and an official in USC's development office, the Times reported.

The official, whose name was redacted in the documents, offered to “flag” the 2016 application by the fashion designer's older daughter and asked “if I can be at all helpful in setting up a 1:1 opportunity for her, customized tour of campus for the family, and/or classroom visit.”

Giannulli told the development official: “Thanks so much, I think we are squared away.” He forwarded the exchange to his wife and added, “The nicest I've been at blowing off somebody.”

Prosecutors allege that Giannulli had already been conspiring with Singer to pass the daughter off as an elite coxswain for the crew team.