Looks Like Lori Loughlin's Daughters Olivia Jade and Bella Will Be Called to Testify Against Her

Photo credit: Gabriel Olsen - Getty Images
Photo credit: Gabriel Olsen - Getty Images

From ELLE

Lori Loughlin's highly-anticipated college admission scandal trial is approaching, and it seems like if the actress decides to keep her not guilty plea, prosecutors fully intend to get her daughters involved in the trial. Us Weekly reports that Olivia Jade and Bella Giannulli will be called to testify if Loughlin does not plead guilty to charges of money laundering, fraud, and bribery.

Loughlin and her husband Mossimo Giannulli allegedly paid $500,000 to make it appear that their daughters were rowing team recruits to guarantee the girls' admission to the University of South California. Olivia and Bella are no longer enrolled at USC, nearly a year after news of the scandal broke. Loughlin and her husband face up to 50 years in jail if convicted of all charges.

Us Weekly's source said, “Lori has been told by the legal team that the United States Attorney’s Office will use her daughters as star witnesses in hopes of securing a conviction.” Olivia and Bella “had their world turned upside down when their parents were indicted,” the source said.

Loughlin naturally “asked if there was anything that could be done to prevent the girls from testifying,” the source continued. “She was told there wasn’t unless there was a change from not guilty to guilty. Accepting a plea bargain would be the only solution.”

Olivia and Bella have fully accepted that they may be brought into the trial. “The girls seem to grasp the severity of the situation and are taking it very seriously," the source said. "Prosecutors plan on asking Bella about the photo she took on a rowing machine prior to being admitted. Bella did so at the direction of her parents.”

Olivia could try to invoke the fifth amendment and refuse to testify if her lawyer advises it, the source added, but it's unclear whether that will actually fly. But Bella and Olivia would rather not be involved if they don't have to be: "They don’t want to be in the crosshairs of this mess more than they already are.”

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