By Devlin Barrett and Devlin Barrett Reporter focusing on national security and law enforcement Email Bio Follow Matt Zapotosky Matt Zapotosky National security reporter covering the Justice Department Email Bio Follow March 12 at 10:57 AM The Justice Department on Tuesday charged more than 30 people — including two television stars — with being part of a long-running scheme to bribe and cheat to get their kids into big-name colleges and universities.
Among those charged are actresses Felicity Huffman, best known for her role on the television show “Desperate Housewives,” and Lori Loughlin, who appeared on “Full House,” according to court documents. Some of the 32 defendants are accused of bribing administrators to facilitate cheating on college-entrance exams — by having a smarter student take the test, providing students with answers to exams or correcting their answers after they had completed the exams, according to the criminal complaint filed in federal court.
Think of how many decades this has gone on and how many people have already gotten away with this. It explains why there are people in position's of responsibility that shouldn't even been in thier current positions who have gone under the radar on this.
Are these the same people who are accusing President Trump of being a Cheat. First shame on them … Second lock 'em up for a while. They are examples of what is worst in America.
Can someone in the media explain why if over 50 celebs, CEOs and others are complicit, why are these 2 women being singled out?
Corruption means that there was a willing party to bribe another willing party. Go after the schools too!
Why is this any different than legacy students?
It's a study in elitist narcissism, these parents used their kids to promote their social status
Let's hope Trump weighs in on this and condemns it. It would be the first time he believes an Intellegence agency. Eventually he might believe them over Putin, Kim Jong Un, or Prince Mohammed! It's about taking baby steps.
Cmon. I ain't surprised if this happens.
chicagotribune thehill HuffPost LAtimes MiamiHerald Newsweek NYtimes politico SFGate USATODAY realDonaldTrump PresSec
Dummies they should have applied to UNC where they have fake classes too! (And could have started on the football team)
LandonA47 Will they do jail time tho
MAGA, it’s always about money and the sooner the average Joan or Joe opens their eyes to reality the better
So Shameless on Showtime is actually a documentary?
It's more about being able to say their child goes to such and such school. Reflects well on them. Quite sad.
So it’s not a bribery scheme to get into college or ? Like I get you have to keep the school runnin’ & someone has to pay teachers blah blah but pay us what you excpect us to give, raise minimum wage already..xoxo thanks
Excellent role modeling, mums.🙄 Lie, cheat, and steal. Very sad. Reminds me of someone. 🤔
This is wrong on so many levels. Poor dumb little rich kids.
🤔So they were faking documents so their kids can have a better life, Why Does that sound familiar.Ohhhh the dreamers😉
More evidence that the wealthy 1% in this country get privilege. The rest of us get squat. Bernie2020 Biden2020 Harris2020 FixTheDivide LockThemUp Anyone but Drumpf
You mean I shouldn't be able to buy the college a new wing in exchange for a guaranteed slot that was based on merit? How else could I attend Yale or Harvard without wealthy parents bribing school administrators to accept me to their alma mater? How is this a shock?
This means no more fuller house 🥺🥺
Lame!
Hollywood liberals are going from Yale to jail. About time!
These are the same students and parents that say “I worked hard for what I have!” 😒
I cannot imagine a story that would elicit less sympathy for the people involved except maybe when the story comes out about the Trump kids being led off in handcuffs.
annamccachren
Duh. As if we didn't already know that.
Hope they're looking at why the colleges went with the bribes Yale Harvard Georgetown
Looks like we have some new, fresh faces for next season's Orange is the New Black. Indict, try, convict, and imprison - just as if they were black or Hispanic, homeless or PTSD suffering vets, poor or mentally ill. Elite justice is no justice at all.
Waiting for the nbcsvu episode -a hybrid of this story with the Epstein case, switching Miami for NewYork
why is it okay for people like Jared Kushner's father to donate millions to a college so Jared can get into the school
Many are now MSM Journalists and Judges on the 9th Circuit.
Things being the way they usually are, these people will most likely get a “Manafort” type of slap on the wrist. Being rich and mediocre must be fun.
Who knew 💁🏿♂️
Blueviolethued Yeah, the fbi accused them because they’re POS. They think their $$ makes them ‘special’. sadnews Nope. You’re still criminals 🥴 Can’t wait to see how you (legally) get out of this. Cuz, you know, the US 😂
pavlaki1969 Is that the Full House chick that Jerry Seinfeld 'dated' on the show?
Tony Soprano knew all along, one big shake down ;)
No man done this? I see only woman....
Kind of refreshing. It seems like years since we've seen shameless, criminal and shocking behavior that was not somehow connected to Tr**p. Though does bring to mind: Tr**p University, Fordham grades, rigged online polls, fake Time Magazine cover, .......
This only proves that not everyone earned their way to the top. AuntBecky LoriLoughlin FelicityHuffman
Will sanctions be placed on these universities just like when there's a sports scandal?
It’s almost as if society is set up to let the rich get richer by putting them in better educated and prestigious colleges while letting the lower class stay in lower quality schools on purpose. Oh wait
I wonder what federal law was broken.
Finally a scandal that The University of Arizona Athletic Department can’t possibly be involved in.
I am shocked. Shocked, I tell you. Said no one ever.
Well that explains A LOT of the dim corrupt professional bulbs 💡 taking up space on the upper rungs...
The next article you will see is how this is our POTUS fault.
Every Name Needs To Be Outed. Disgraceful. I Have 3 True Student Athletes Who Have Worked Their Asses Off On The Soccer Field & Hockey Rink Since The Age Of 6. All The Hard Work, Dedication, & Sacrifice. Proud Of My Kids! They Earned It! D1WSoccer D3WSoccer D3MHockey ProudDad
What will happen to the students who benefitted?
Higher education - a waste of time, cost a fortune; a propaganda mill for Libs.
Nothing’s gonna happen to them.
2019 continues to be the year of 'bombshells' that everyone already knew about and no one is shocked by
Well I took my morning and read all 200 pages of the charges.... shocked/not shocked at the things people will do to “help” their kids. Nice work Dad. Sick to my stomach for these kids.
Do the same to Elizabeth Warren.
Banana Republic 😁...
Soooo disappointed in this story. Things always come to light. Not fair to students who worked hard and did things by the book.
Stating the obvious
The rich will all get a break while those who cannot afford or even pay a court fine will get the maximum
Banana Republic
I have no idea who those two women are. Could care less.
Well, everyone involved shouldn’t worry too much about this White Collar crime. Their attorneys just need to refer to the Manafort sentencing as a standard set. He was guilty for so much more and worse and he got 4 yrs out of poss 24. A president set guys. Use it.
💩💩
victoriajbd Trump-dad paid his way into penn Obama- scholarship colombia w bush- dad paid his way into yale Clinton- scholarship yale Hw bush - dad paid his way into penn I see a pattern
Need to check the accreditation of these schools also. May not meet the test.
If Jared Kushner’s family can bribe his way into Harvard (and did), then the example and precedent have been set. Colleges should know better. Colleges should also stop admitting “legacy” students as well. Real merit is earning your way in.
This is nothing new the rich and famous can always afford to pay their way out. Hence the reason they support so many organizations. This been going on for so long it has become a common acceptance in the way of social life. Richness and fame is a guarantee for social progress.
Mbusih They should start with the schools too as parents get desperate! When you see you kid crying there and u get a school that can accept bribes?fire the whole admin for that!grades and academics should be objective! Review those applications too publicly or by external ppl
This will forever be an official day of mourning in Greenwich CT!
... snowflakes parents...
I can hardly wait to hear their groups of attorneys reading their apologies. I sort of wish I knew who Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin ARE so that I could feel more outrage toward them. Huffman married to actor Bill Macy. Whatever.
Fgu this
Hey_Its_Rissa so did you ACTUALLY get a 34 on your ACT!!!2!33?
EmmaLBriant Buying your way into the Ivy’s.
newsone Please, this is nothing new. The only reason the FBI are cracking down now is because black people are doing it too. Whenever we learn how to do what the real cons have being doing for decades, is when the government want to shut it down. FBI were college students once also.
Prestige is expensive as fuck.
africaupdates Even Lynette Scavo? Felicity Huffman?👿😰😰😰
Wealthy is relative. These are only the people who weren’t rich enough to bribe the Universities in the approved “school donations” method.
BlochCamille bah alors Linette
Isn’t that how everyone does it🤷♂️
they should also look into USC’s and other elite schools spring admits ... it’s how they get the lower tier in for $ w/o affecting their admission rate
Not suprising really! Sad but not shocked!
No doubt how spoiled those kids are! They wanted everlasting Gob Stoppers now eat it! There’s always adult school! Get a job at a fast food across from campus Dummies! LOL too funny! How long has this been going on?
No news they entiled!! They feel!!
The reason we have a dummy in the White House today. Cheating.
Why are only two women being actually named ..everyone else is just being called out by title?
They unfortunately did what most Folks w/$ will gladly do for their Kids. What's shameful is that in US meritocracy is BS for those who scream the loudest for it Did NOTHING, cheated, by Cronyism, nepotism, networking got ahead...while expecting the Poor & POC to pull bootstraps
Who care, people been doing it for year and third world countries do it too by giving money to police to get away with crime
Where’s the list of the people?
Didn't do the Trump family any good... they all came out as brain dead as they went in...
LesBowen College has been overrated and overpriced for decades. Corruption, bribery, absurdly inflated mountains of student debt, and no guarantee of employment after you graduate. Add that to the liberal snowflake culture on Modern campuses and I'd argue it's not worth it anymore.
Lava Jato neles
مكتب التحقيقات الفيدرالي يتهم الآباء الأثرياء ، بما في ذلك المشاهير ، في مخطط الرشوة مدخل الكلية التي تستهدف المدارس مثل ييل ، جورج تاون
This is how Kushner got into Harvard with lousy grades. And Trump into Wharton. But Trump had to go to Fordham for two years first before dad paid to get him into Wharton. Money talks.
I wondered if any of those spoiled unethical people are working in the media.
Like Charles Kushner who paid 2.5 million to get Jared into Yale?
I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t they just call the dean of admissions and tell them they’re rich like all other wealthy parents?
tinkerbell9958 Sannu avaye hi badnaam kar rakha hai
GOOD! Keep the numbskulls that are only there because of money out of prestige schools!
how is this different than legacy admissions
And look: they used sports programs. Hi NCAA, the most corrupt, non-profit organization in the world. Don’t tell me they didn’t know about this? They’ll ruin a kid’s life over a free dinner from a friend’s dad (which they somehow track), but this escaped them?
Is anybody really surprised? Trump claims a degree from Wharton by taking a class there when he was barely getting by at Fordham. Papa came to the rescue! McCain last in class West Point! GW, C student at Yale. Elite schools have always been on the take!
Does this mean We are Disbanding the Hearties?
Hang on a minute people. Is ANYONE seriously saying they didn't think this is going on? I mean come on! Its WRONG, VERY WRONG. This IS the world we live in though. You don't have to like, but it's happening everywhere.
Operation Varsity Blues. That is hilarious. gotem moneytalks
The next season of 'Jail House' on Netflix is going to be awesome.
Universities are overrated. Send your kid to a community college or a trade school or complete online courses.
This is what happens when buckets of money meets a vacuum of morality.
So Yale and Georgetown are filled with mediocre students such as the LoriLoughlin and FelicityHuffman ones who have to bribe their way in. I guess these universities are not really that good then.
I’ve argued for years that the elite institutions, Harvard, Yale, and their ilk are deeply complicit in the inequality and injustice of American society. The sad thing is that much of America knows this, but thought electing Trump was a way to reject that elitism. It wasn’t.
FBI wins again
Some people have too much money.
FelicityHuffman LoriLoughlin ... 😂😂😂 Corruptos to jail
So if these kids could not get into the schools on their own merits, then graduating from Yale, etc...is going to make them smarter?
newsone Who would ever believe that wealthy people would use their money to game a system? Absolutely shocking. It’s almost as if a wealthy man with outside help can buy his way to the Presidency. Almost.
Take all that money that these people made and build the wall
FBI accuses wealthy corporatists, including CEOs in legislation-manipultion, bribery scheme aimed at political parties such as Republican Party, Democratic Party. Oh wait wtf you mean it is legal?
Kat4Obama Rich people behaving badly? Rich people lying, cheating, and stealing? Rich people working the system to benefit themselves? I tell you I’m absolutely shocked no I’m not. I hope they all do prison time. Sorry not sorry. 😡
I would and have questioned the caliber of the 'educated' graduate student at these elite Universities If they boast about graduating from blah blah It's thank you and good day
Aunt Becky, say it ain’t so? LoriLoughlin 😕 cheat
Yeah! Plaster the two actresses all over everything. But what about all the others? Very rich men?
Lock them up!!
Usc wait list
Sounds about right!
Probably what Trumps Dad did too. Sad bigly!
I'm only surprised about USC. Is that hard to get into? I mean, it's not Stanford or Harvard.
Their just following the example of the Clintons & the Democratic leadership. So FBI what about all the evidence against the Clintons & the Clinton Foundation? foxandfriends realDonaldTrump DeepState TuckerCarlson seanhannity GregGutfeldShow foxnation
lol at confirmation of either mom playing favorites or who gets to brag about being the smarter sibling
US stopped respecting eduction when decided that nobody could fail in school. Knowledge & learning r no longer important in the society, in general. Buying a piece of paper that does not reflect any knowledge -why not. It’s all about money, not education.
This scheme is so disgusting! So many kids work so hard. These wealthy elites cheat at every turn!
Who cares
Skanks gonna skank
Like Trump Sr
The new affirmative action..
No resources to cheat for my children and even if I did I would hope I would NEVER think of doing it. Makes me even prouder of my degree from Ohio State. I had a job all through college, and earned every grade by hard work and study. What a concept!
Yes, the wealthy are gonna wealth, a fact of life
Have they checked how realDonaldTrump got admitted? That might explain why he's hiding his results
Who thinks this just started to happen. Wealthy parents have been buying their children’s way into certain colleges by making large donations to get them in for ever and ever. Who is surprised by this?
I’m shocked I tell ya!
There will come a time when the people will rise up and take their country from politicians and the rich.
FBI hit them with 27 agents in the middle of the night in full gear as reported by CNN who just happened to be posted outside! Btw just heard at news conference that the FBI has regulations and there are times you can't make arrests so he said you can't arrest someone at 2am! Hum
ShAmeless comes to life
I’m not surprised.
Wouldn’t it be ironic if Trump commented on these universities involved in scams❔
Guaranty, this is all rich liberals who tried to cheat the system. Cut from the same cloth as Obama & Clinton. They like to tell everyone how to live their lives while trying to manipulate the system for their own benefit!
So much for parents having faith in their child’s abilities. What an absolute disgrace . I feel sorry for the impending college students because their parents desperate actions will forever be a cloud over their heads. How do people sleep at night?
No shit
No 💩 Sherlock.
As the song says: them that’s got shall get...
can rich people stop cheating at life or is that how they got rich in the first place ?
Great job FBI I look forward to other RICO investigations in the near future.
PatsyResists F'ck, can't read it, damn WaPo.
Now we know how Trump got into his colleges. Money talks. But we all knew that.
Meritocracy is often for the little people. One of the few times Trump told the truth is that the system is rigged.
If they are filling their schools with unworthy students, how are they really worth the price of admission? Guess it is just another way to create haves and have nots.
PatsyResists So can we stop with the false narrative that the super rich/wealthy are a meritocracy now?
Do you really think that this something new? The elites in this country has been doing this for years. The elites are People in Hollywood, congressmen, and senators and finally the rich and powerful in this country. I’m not shocked as middle class stiff.
PatsyResists always wanting more...🖕
Wow, just like Daddys Trump and Kushner!
I'm not surprised.
How is this different than what Jared Kushner's daddy did to get him in?
“...I busted my ass to get into Yale”, said one man. “ I did it without any connections...”, he added
These kids already have enormous advantages with parents who pay for private academic and athletic tutoring as well as private school. This is just insanity
You mean those children of wealthy parents may not have been smart enough or done enough extracurriculars to get in on their own merits? And these money-hungry universities were willing to overlook that for-- GASP-- money? I for one am SHOCKED I tell you, SHOCKED.
And water is wet!
Why is everyone so surprised by this, I thought this was a common practice?
What a horrible example for these rich people to show their kids , that money can get you anything. Karma will get you in the end.
Noooo!!! I. am. shocked.! Rich people using money to get into college?! Oh. my.God! Whats Next? rich people using money to get into politics?!... or to get a position in the government?! .. or to become president
joannalampert1 Bribery seats + legacy seats. So, how many academically-challenged students get into these 'elite' schools?
OK, so you name the celebs for clicks. Who the hell are the coaches and administrators
Hey-it worked for Joel Goodson in ‘Risky Business’!
It's what we always suspected, but the proof of the buy-in is still shocking.
So you mean to tell me that America's elite institutions of higher education aren't filled with the best and the brightest but instead the most privileged and wealthy? Well, I for one am appalled.
Thanks to this new revelation people should now stop being impressed by dumb people who seem to have it all.
This is about Trump, right?
Well, this is not surprising - but just as an aside. 1420 on the SAT is not that great - Huffman paid someone for that? (and it's not unusual at all to get 400 points higher on the SAT than PSAT - you have a whole extra year of school under the belt. You should go up even more)
Rich people pay big bucks to help their spawn? How is this news? Next you'll tell me frats indulge in grabass.
But Affirmative Action is the real issue 🙄🙄🙄
Where have you been Wapo? We in the silent majority have always known this. It’s all about who you know. Legacy admissions, money and connection to gain entrance into the big game. The band played on.
Fucked up, but not shocking in the least.
God I hope they get their degrees stripped from them.
YOU DON’T SAY
Talk about making the case for Tuition-free colleges & universities.... Yale Stanford USC Georgetown
Socialism exists in the US if you're rich enough
The alleged crimes, officials say, involved cheating on entrance exams, as well as bribing school officials to say certain students were coming to compete on athletic teams when those students were not in fact athletes
Age of the Cheat
Meritocracy
This has always been the norm...🤷♂️ I guess people have decided it’s not cool 😎
This is very old news this was happening forever
.FBI Did you check realDonaldTrump's grades and test scores while you were at it?
Shocking. (not really)
Funny one of classmates in Grad sch openly told me his parents bribed....( not sure what I was meant to feel)!
The wealthy getting special treatment? No! Tomorrow - FBI accuses sky of being blue.
Wealthy people using power, money and influence to get their kids into some of the best Universities in America? Shocking! I mean, it's been happening since forever bit still, shocking!
Rich people being crooks. What else is new.
FBI ! 💯
Boomers: whY dOnT miLlEnIaLs LiKe CaPiTaliSm Or ThE rIcH
Washington Post latest news, just in: BEARS SHIT IN THE WOODS!!