We’d say this is a smoking gun, but frankly this is just one of a LOT of weapons in the arsenal of federal prosecutors in the case against Lori Loughlin and Mossimo Giannulli.
Just over a week ago, the parents — who stand accused of bribing USC athletics officials with half a million dollars to get their daughters admitted to the school through college athlete status — demanded the government release evidence it was withholding.
Their aim was to find exculpatory evidence — documents and statements from witness/middleman Rick Singer which sow doubt as to whether Lori and Moss understood they were giving money to an individual faculty member. This feeds into their legal strategy of painting themselves as innocent, hapless victims just trying to make totally legal donations and getting bamboozled by a con man.
Related: Lori & Mossimo Put Their Mansion Up For Sale Amid College Admissions Scandal
Well, the government responded late last week by saying some of what was being demanded didn’t exist, some didn’t exist yet (there are still witness statements being taken), and some they didn’t have any legal obligation to turn over. However, they did give Aunt Becky some of what she was asking for, in a twisted way; they produced a LOT more evidence, including one of the worst pieces yet for the defense.
The problem with the Giannullis’ defense has always been the fabrication about their daughters’ athletic accomplishments. Olivia Jade and Bella Giannulli are not and were not rowers. Yet they got admitted to USC as members of the crew team. That didn’t happen accidentally. If Lori and Moss really thought they were just donating and not doing anything fraudulent, why make up an elaborate lie about their kids’ involvement in a sport they didn’t actually participate in??
And the piece of evidence the feds just released shows just how elaborate this alleged rowing hoax was.
It’s an athletic resume for Olivia Jade, and it isn’t just a little fib saying she can row. No, the document lists numerous rowing accomplishments going back years, including gold medals, participation in college events, and the fact her older sister is already on the team. Reminder: Olivia may be an accomplished vlogger with nearly 2 million YouTube subscribers, but she does NOT row crew. Like, at all.
The newly released CV even says Olivia (whose first name is redacted but is made clear by the dates involved) “has been successful in both men’s and women’s boats.” Yeah, they really overdid it.
Ch-ch-check out all the info (below):
ROWING INFO
MAC ROWING
Coxswain
Skill Set
– Awareness, organization, direction and steeringCOMPETITION
– 2016/2017 Head of the Charles-Boston
– 14th place – 2017
– 11th place – 2016
– 2015-2017 Head of the American-Lake Natoma
– 7th place – 2016, 2017
– 8th place – 2015
– 2015-2017 Head of the Lagoon-Foster City
– 2017 4th place
– 2016/2015 5
– 2016/2017 Women’s Varsity 8 boat, Men’s JV 4 boat
– 2016 Fault Line Faceoff, Bronze medal
– 2015-2017 Christmas Regatta, Silver medal
– USRowing Southwest Regional Junior Championships,
– Bronze – 2016
– Silver – 2015
– Marin Crew Festival
– Top 3 finish over the past 4 years
– San Diego Crew Classic
– Gold Medal – 2016
– Silver Medal – 2015
– Gold Medal – 2014Sports Rowing programs:
– University of Washington, University of Florida, University of California, Los AngelesUSC has four boats which require 4 coxswains along with 2 back-ups. [REDACTED] would fill the position of our #3 boat. Her sister is currently on our roster and fills the position of our #4 boat. Division 1 rowing programs use scholarships for the oarsmen but rarely with scholarship a coxswain. Although [REDACTED]’s non-scholarship she is highly talented and has been successful in both men’s and women’s boats.
You want to tell us there are parents who would spend the time making up that list of fake medals their kid won in a sport she doesn’t do and never once considered all that lying might not be legit??
Lori and Mossimo have refused what was probably their last chance to plead guilty, so it looks like we could see all this play out in a trial — in which the girls have to testify against their parents — as soon as this October.
What do YOU think of this new piece of evidence??
[Image via Adriana M. Barraza/WENN/Olivia Jade/YouTube.]
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