Lori Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli appeared in court in Boston today for their hearings in regards to the college admissions scandal made public this past March. The couple indicated that they would both be represented by attorneys from the firm Latham & Watkins.
The charges brought against ex-Fuller House star Loughlin and fashion designer Giannulli were a result of the probe titled “Operation Varsity Blues,” which implicated more than 50 people in nation-wide college admissions scandal. Loughlin and Giannulli in particular were charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, honest services fraud, and money laundering, to which they pled not guilty in April of this year. If found guilty of these crimes, the pair could face up to twenty years each in prison.
During the hearing, Magistrate Judge Page Kelly questioned Loughlin and Giannulli’s decision to share the same legal team, commenting that an attorney dedicated “to you and you alone” is essential for most good defenses, according to Deadline. Nevertheless, the two confirmed that they would be sharing attorneys for the case.
The couple’s appearance in court today was otherwise perfunctory, lasting less than an hour. Loughlin and Giannulli moved quickly past the media when entering the courthouse today. Judge Kelly asked a series of questions about the couple’s use of drugs and alcohol, psychological state, and other elements to confirm that they fully understood the risk of sharing attorneys in this case. The two answered with short Yes and No answers, providing no additional commentary at this time. The hearing ended with the two signing a waiver acknowledging the possible conflicts of interest that may arise from joint legal representation.
The next court date for Loughlin and Giannulli will be a status conference on October 2 of this year, and the case appears to be moving towards a trial. One of the other Hollywood names involved in this scandal, Felicity Huffman, will appear in court on September 13 after pleading guilty in April of this year.