Hollywood elite exposed in nationwide school admissions scandal
Reaction and analysis from CapmusReform.org's Emma Meshell on 'Fox & Friends First.'
One day after Lori Loughlin was ensnared in a bombshell college admissions investigation, the "Full House" star has been released on a $1 million bond.
As part of her bond arrangement, the 54-year-old is being permitted to travel within the continental U.S. as well as British Columbia, where she is currently filming. She will have to surrender her passport in November when her projects are expected to wrap.
Loughlin is prohibited from speaking to anyone related to the case with the exception of her famed fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli – who is also a defendant in the case – along with both of her daughters who “could be witnesses.”
Designer Mossimo Giannulli and wife Lori Loughlin in April 2015. (Getty, File)
Earlier on Wednesday, Loughlin was taken into custody in connection with the scheme in which wealthy parents allegedly paid bribes to get their children admitted into top colleges.
A rep for Loughlin told Fox News she had "no information regarding her client." The actress' attorney did not respond to our multiple requests for comment.
On Tuesday, Giannulli appeared in court and was released on $1 million bond, secured by the couple's home. The judge ordered that Giannulli restrict his travel to the continental United States and surrender his passport.
Lori Loughlin, left, appears in this court sketch at the U.S. federal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles, Calif. on March 13, 2019. (REUTERS/Mona Shafer Edwards)
Loughlin did not appear in court on Tuesday because she was filming a movie in Vancouver at the time of Giannulli's arrest. According to multiple reports, the actress landed at LAX on Tuesday during her husband's court hearing.
Federal law enforcement officials went to Loughlin’s home in Los Angeles on Tuesday and discovered she was out of the country, according to TMZ. She faces charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, according to a criminal complaint.
Fellow actress Felicity Huffman, an Academy Award nominee, was arrested at her home Tuesday for her alleged involvement in the scheme. She appeared in Los Angeles federal court Tuesday looking visibly tired before posting $250,000 bail and surrendering her passport.
Loughlin and Giannulli are accused of agreeing to pay $500,000 in bribes to have their two daughters designated as recruits for the University of Southern California crew team despite that fact that neither child participated in the sport. Their daughter, famous YouTube star Olivia Jade, attends USC. It was not clear if their other daughter, Isabella, has attended the university.
Loughlin, Giannulli and Huffman are all ordered to appear in federal court in Boston on March 29 for a preliminary hearing.
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More than four dozen people have been charged in the nationwide scam, which is alleged to have placed students in top-tier schools like Yale, Georgetown, Stanford, the University of Southern California, UCLA and the University of Texas. A federal investigation into the matter – dubbed "Operation Varsity Blues" – has been ongoing for more than a year.
Loughlin became famous as the wholesome Aunt Becky in the 1980s and '90s sitcom "Full House." She more recently has become the queen of the Hallmark channel with her holiday movies and the series "When Calls the Heart."
Fox News' Louis Casiano and Jennifer Girdon contributed to this report.
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