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About 50 people have had arrest warrants issued, been arrested, are negotiating their arrest or are being pursued in connection with a college cheating scandal code named “Operation Varsity Blues”. Parents paying to get their mouth breathing, drooling spawn into schools the little idiots are not qualified to attend. If you missed the press conference today, it was absolutely jaw dropping. Not shocking or surprising just jaw dropping.
Here from ABC New York is a short video recap:
While the rest of us honorable schmucks were paying for college board prep tests (my son wouldn’t go) or at least begging our little cherubs to get a good night’s sleep prior to the test (nope to that one, too), these elitists, who are so much better than we are, schemed with a weasel named William Singer to phony up the test scores for the college boards, create phony elite athlete profiles and get their kids into college as athletes or just plain bribe college officials. And, then as if these elitists didn’t disdain us enough, they claimed the costs as charitable contributions on their tax returns. You cannot make this excrement up.
Actress Lori Loughlin (Aunt Becky on Full House) and her husband, Target fashion designer, Mossimo Gianulli are two of the parents caught in the web of lies. From Deadline Hollywood:
Loughlin and her spouse Mossimo Gianulli “agreed to pay bribes totaling $500,000 in exchange for having their two daughters designated as recruits to the USC crew team — despite the fact that they did not participate in crew — thereby facilitating their admission to USC,” asserts the grand jury indictment.
Gianulli has been charged.
Didn’t even bother to crew at USC. Teen Vogue is reporting that poor Olivia Jade Gianulli is being harassed online. Read this Tweet from two years ago and you might understand why poor Olivia Jade is getting shade. Today’s lesson is the interwebs lives forever and ever.
Tweet from nearly two years ago, will come back to bite.
Next up, the Desperate Housewife Felicity Huffman and her Fargo actor husband, William H. Macy. Again, from Deadline Hollywood:
The 200-page indictment unsealed Tuesday said Huffman and William H. Macy, her husband and Shameless star, “made a purported charitable contribution of $15,000 to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme on behalf of her eldest daughter.” That fraud included paying an individual who “controlled” a Los Angeles SAT testing center to fix her daughter’s incorrect exam answers. That effort led to a massive increase in the daughter’s SAT score.
Noting that there are RICO Act obtained tape recordings of the actor participating in the scheme, the filing damningly goes on to note that “Huffman later made arrangements to pursue the scheme a second time, for her younger daughter, before deciding not to do so.”
Desperate people do desperate things. Except that some of us have honor. Some of us do not cheat, lie or steal. Felicity Huffman, Lori Loughlin and all the rest of these creatures charged with these alleged crimes have no honor. They cheated, they lied and they stole from all of us.
These people are all innocent until proven guilty. The mastermind behind all this, William Singer, is pleading guilty today. To all of it. Soliciting the people, the wire fraud and mail fraud, and also setting up the phony charity to permit those allegedly charged to deduct the expenses of getting their spawn into college. Wouldn’t funding a scholarship have been easier?
Kudos to the FBI and the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS. This is what their job is supposed to be. The FBI is not supposed to attempt to circumvent the outcome of a Presidential Election and the IRS is not supposed to badger and harass Tea Party types.
FBI Special Agent Joseph Bonavolonta and U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling should have had a capital “S” on each of their chests as they led the press conference. These words are what Americans should remember:
“This should be a warning to others, you can’t pay to play, you can’t lie and cheat to get ahead because you will get caught,” said the Boston FBI Special Agent Joseph Bonavolonta in a press conference this morning. U.S, Attorney Andrew Lelling called the matter a “conspiracy nationwide in scope” during the same media appearance.
“These parents are a catalog of wealth and privilege,” the federal prosecutor added. “They include, for example, CEOs of private and public companies, successful securities and real estate investors, two well-known actresses, a famous fashion designer and the co-chairman of a global law firm.”
“There are more than that, but I’m not prepared to give you a total,” Lelling said too of the ongoing investigation, noting “it remains to be seen whether we charge any of the students.”
For Loughlin, Huffman, Macy and all of the other innocent until proven guilty types allegedly involved in Operation Varsity Blues, these final words. If you are guilty of these alleged crimes, shame on you. There are parents and children all over the United States who worked hard, studied, and played by the rules. But you desperate, insecure people couldn’t live with the fact that your spawn weren’t special so you allegedly cheated and took the seat of someone worthy. Now you have the varsity blues, too.
Not surprising or shocking, just jaw dropping that those who may be guilty have been caught.
Photo credit: Felicity Huffman and William H. Macy/Public Domain
Kim Hirsch says: Clap. Clap. Clap.
His_Highness says: I have to wonder if this is how AOC got into, and out of, BU.
concierge says: AOC got into BU on a Lopez fellowship, designated for a student of Hispanic origin who wanted to give back to improve the Hispanic community. She got her tuition paid by being a minority helping her own Hispanic minority in the way of an internship before she graduated, & was expected to help them afterwards. I researched it, as I was surprised she was admitted into BU!
concierge says: AOC got into BU on a Lopez fellowship, designated for Hispanics to help other Hispanics in the community. She was required to do an internship pertaining to this, & her tuition was paid. She seems to think she’s smarter than she actually is, & her litany of inaccurate comments, proven wrong by Anderson Cooper, on air, are many. She tries to use charm to gloss over her mistakes; not a wise career decision. She often mentions or plays the minority/race card, before having done the research. Ditto her outrage that Huffman may “only get 10 months or less in prison” due to her part in Operation Varsity Blues. OAC would rather waste tax payers $ & federal resources, to put Huffman in prison for the maximum penalty, rather than have her contribute to a charity that helps the disadvantaged & volunteer to help them. Clearly what Huffman did was wrong on many levels, yet she’s not a violent criminal, nor a repeat offender. AOC is already faulting our legal system, before sentencing has even been assigned. Why can’t she give the judges the benefit of due process before criticizing the entire legal system prior to these cases being completed?! Again, she jumps to conclusions.
A. C. says: What those parents know that you probably know but aren’t telling is that it wasn’t simply a matter of lack of academic ability, or the kids weren’t, to use YOUR words, “mouth breathing, drooling spawn.” Their children might even have been just a bit smarter than you, or your children. Possibly even smart enough to know that their SAT won’t matter as much as the fact that they’re the wrong race, wrong gender, wrong sexual orientation. So their parents are doing the rational, logical thing to get their kid in: bribing the admissions officers. It’s been going on for a long time.
Do you know the races of the parents caught in this law operation? How many are from oppressed ethnic minorities?
Scott says: Like a typical leftist, YOU are the one that brings race into this. In addition your “oppressed ethnic minorities” comment exposes your leftist slant, and narrow mindedness, as well as complete ignorance of reality. nHow about we bring political orientation into it.. the ones named so far are leftists from Hollywood… as to the children being smarter that the author, I’d highly doubt it, especially if you look at the above social media post, or videos on facebook, etc of Olivia Jade Gianulli, she makes it obvious that she is far more interested in partying than in an education, and from her speech patterns, she does not appear to be exceptionally bright.
That being said, thanks for playing!
GWB says: Though, Scott, never forget the potentiality that A.C. is being sarcastic. It’s really hard to tell satire from leftist stupidity nowadays.
😉
Scott says: Fair enough, and if that’s so I’ll happily offer a mea culpa
poorlittlebunny says: I don’t think A.C. is progging it up at all. Just expressing bitterness at the meritocracy-destroying fustercluck that is identity quota entrance requirements.
concierge says: Alan Bakke sued UCDavis, my alma mater, for “reverse discrimination” & he WON! He refused to accept their rejection letter, as he had outstanding grades & test scores. Good for him! They had to admit him into their Law School; a Caucasian American male! concierge
gina says: quite a few non whites and “ethic minorities as a matter of fact…
https://www.justice.gov/file/1142876/download
https://www.thetodaypress.com/2019/03/12/rich-bay-area-parents-paid-to-grease-kids-college-entry/
concierge says: I surmise U R being sarcastic, while making the point that these kids might well be “smart,” but not part of a protected “minority,” who’s admissions standards R based more on other factors….not academic achievements!? They had many other options, than to cheat, deceive or commit a crime to gain admission! Why not apply to a plethora of good colleges, not just your #1 or #2 choice? Take a year or two & get work exper. first, or do volunteer work in your field of interest, to strengthen your application & show maturity? Many options, besides justifying being deceitful were at their fingertips. We know the admissions system is outdated & flawed, but teaching your kids to be dishonest, isn’t great for thier career. More people should be like Alan Bakke who sued UCDavis for “reverse discrimination,” for rejecting his attempt for admission to their law school. He WON his case & was admitted, afte rproving he was better qualified than the minority applicants. He’s a white, American male, which was held against him. He had stellar grades & scores. This proved how lowering standards for minority admissions, & setting aside so many slots for that special minority program, can backfire, & be unfair to more well qualified students! The unfairness works both ways, but intending to cheat the system isn’t the answer. Changing the system is more pragmatic & can be more fair to everyone.
Skillyboo says: They weren’t bribing they were lobbying like K Street does.
concierge says: They were pulling a Paul Manfort move?! (Nothing wrong w/ paying off people & influencing the outcome, as long as no one allegedly knows!)
Varsity Blues is wrong in so many ways!
GWB says: there are RICO Act obtained tape recordings
RICO for the win! (Now, can we get to work on using it against some of the mobs and other miscreants trying to destroy our society?)
Some of us do not cheat, lie or steal.
Yeah, but then you end up in the military or something because you’re too dumb to get into college. And nobody wants that.
/Kerry
Wouldn’t funding a scholarship have been easier?
Charlie Martin wrote on PJ Media’s Live Blog earlier today:
That college bribery scheme just shows how dumb Hollywood types are. Everyone knows you pay those bribes directly to the college endowment as “contributions”. Then they’re even deductable.
This is what their job is supposed to be.
So, fire everyone in the FBI and IRS (well, the criminal division) except the people involved in this investigation.
“These parents are a catalog of wealth and privilege,”
Yes. The “wealth privilege” or “class privilege” is MUCH more prevalent in America than any sort of sex or race “privilege”.
They didn’t pay the bribe $ that way, because most of it was going to line Mr. SINGER’s pockets & his fake “charity.” The bribe $ also went to individuals at the colleges who were unethical & in on the admissions scam. It was not meant for the endowment at the colleges! The bribe $ was for the most part NOT going to the university. Singer is too greedy
for that. He was predominately helping HIMSELF, not the universities. That’s one of the many reasons why this scam is so despicable.
Kim Hirsch says: The pampered princesses were supposed to be on a rowing crew? Snort!
My son-in-law rowed on a crew team when he was a student at the Naval Academy. It’s tough. When he was a plebe, he fell out of the shell during competition held in Pennsylvania in November. His oar had hit a snag and threw him into the cold river.
He finished the race, but his coaches immediately bundled him afterwards so he wouldn’t develop hypothermia.
When he graduated he had blisters on his hands that didn’t go away for a long time.
Yet Singer foisted these girls off as having been on a rowing crew.
“Crew? You mean, like a boat? I thought it meant, like, hanging out with my crew.”
Wfjag says: So, your son-in-law (before he was that, since students at the military academies must not marry) rowed the Schuylkill River. I’d remark that he’d had a wonderful experience in a beautiful location, but, we’re not supposed to lie, cheat or steal, or tolerate the company of those who do. But, the Boat House at U Penn has nice showers.
Scott says: Watched a bunch of those races as a kid, great fun in the spring, but never seen the inside of any of the boathouses.
CaptDMO says: Quite frankly, I have little concern for “Folks with money pay for college admittance” . and maintain my concern for
“What does that certificate of participation on the wall actually MEAN!”
Paid to get in? Get in to WHAT?
THIS (recurring) episode of gaming the system bores the crap out of me.
FAMOUS “women entertainers involved”!
Great! Now we can put the glass ceiling thing to bed, and move on to
“Politicians bribe with (somebody’s) money to cheat their way into lawmaker seat!”
(Despite lack of President’s Physical Fitness Certificate)
[…] elite schools that educate swamp creatures, so they paid someone to lie for them. Toni Williams at Victory Girls […]
I find that the vast majority of parents fall somewhere on the spectrum of “willing to game the system somewhat” to “doing absolutely anything including murder” to help their children be successful. I believe that to be inherent and instinctive human nature and those humans that don’t have that instinct are likely evolutionary dead ends in my opinion. I believe that any socio-economic-political structure that doesn’t take that into account is bound to fail or at least be quite suboptimal. In the case of getting into prestigious schools perhaps it can’t be optimally taken into account, I don’t know, and if so, expect scandals like this until the end of time.
I graduated from MIT in 1980s. I had a good GPA (straight A’s senior year, for example) and didn’t have to work very hard and was quite happy at MIT but I wouldn’t get in now and it wouldn’t even be close. And that’s the problem. Without cheating, I could not now get into any college that I’d find even remotely challenging so it would make a lot of sense for me to cheat and I would do so without regret or remorse. Does that make me a terrible person? Certainly. I am a terrible human being. The point is that there are lots and lots and lots … of terrible human beings and the current admissions structure brings out our terribleness. Good for you that you’re so honorable, please keep being such an honorable schmuck, that will make it easier for me to cheat for my children (well, grandchildren at this point).
concierge says: I got into UCDavis, as a nonresident, many years ago, transferring from American University in Paris. I figure, if I was able to handle the stress, & do it honestly via hard work, then so could those kids. If they got a rejection letter, it would’ve been an adult learning experience, not the end of their career options world. Their parents robbed them of an important honest, learning experience. These kids R humiliated, & the parents lost jobs, friends, etc. for being greedy. They cared more about status & bragging rights, than about what their kids wanted & needed. We R all flawed, but this is a sad reflection of our dysfunctional admissions process & the cheats that attempted to beat the system. There’s an obvious lack of consistant checks & balances & fair play, in an outdated system. Yet, cheating & criminal behavior is not the solution. The bigger picture is, what is going to change to make the admissions process more fair, & less stressful for the kids & the parents?
concierge says: These parents human insecurities & obsession with prestige, image & social bragging has gone too far. Committing fraud & crimes never “helps” your kids. Why can’t they allow their kids to be who they are, despite whatever college they do, or don’t, get admitted into the first time they apply? If they don’t get in, will they accept/love them any less? Why not accept your kid’s strengths & weaknesses, & help them learn & grow based on these qualities? These parents robbed their kids of an honest, adult learning opportunity. They taught them to cheat the system & to deceive to “succeed,” & it backfired. The whole Varsity Blues scam is sad, pathetic & unfair, & those with entitlement issues should donate to a real charity to help the kids who really need & deserve it. Prison will not correct their wrongdoings. Helping other kids will better our society & teach them a lesson. Give them fines that will go to charity for education. Wasting taxpayers $ for people like F. Huffman to be in prison is ridiculous. Singer & Loughlin committed major fraud, but Huffman’s egregious fraud was minor in comparison. She can do more good out of prison, helping kids financially pay for college, & doing charity work as her punishment. Help society.
Many people who join the military, esp. the Air Force, which is selective, don’t join “because they’re too dumb to get into college.” Many join for the experience, & cuz they get college paid for! My brother got a scholarship to a top private college & turned it down to join the Air Force. He got 2 degrees from Univer. of CA., paid for by the military & scholarships & his MBA paid for. He’s now a multimillionaire. He’s far from “dumb! ” Never assume. Some highly successful astronauts were in the military. I’m shocked you lack respect for those who join the military to keep us safe.
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