Desperate Housewives star sentenced for bribery and now explains her actions
Felicity Huffman, known for her role in the popular TV series "Desperate Housewives", found herself at the center of a media whirlwind in 2019 after being convicted in a bribery scandal. It is only now that Huffman, portrayed the character of Lynette in the series, has decided to speak publicly about the incident since the verdict.
5:27 PM EST, December 3, 2023
"Desperate Housewives", an American dramedy aired from 2004 to 2012, served up a slice of suburban life infused with a streak of crime drama. It chronicled the lives of five housewives, each harboring their own secrets, whose lives are upended when one among them dies mysteriously.
Huffman's character, Lynette Scavo, was the harried mother of four ill-disciplined children. Off-screen, Huffman is mother to Sophie and Georgia. It was her alleged attempts to undermine the system to assist her younger daughter, Georgia, that landed the actress in serious legal trouble.
She was apprehended at her California home on March 12, 2019. Huffman was accused of misappropriating a supposed charity donation of $15,000 to a college recruitment consultant who was tasked with fraudulently inflating her daughter's SAT scores to gain admission into college. Huffman conceded to these charges and was subsequently sentenced in the same year to 14 days in prison, along with 250 hours of community service and a fine of $30,000.
The scandal was part of a larger corruption allegation in 2019 in the US, known as "Operation Varsity Blues". This entailed organized bribery, where parents paid substantial amounts to ensure their children's admission into top colleges, with the money directed towards those who could manipulate test results and university representatives. The scandal made it to mainstream media again in 2021 with a Netflix documentary.
During an interview with American television program KABC-TV, Huffman expressed deep remorse for her actions, apologizing to diligent students enduring the grueling process of prestigious college admissions. She also clarified why she chose to participate in illegal activities.
In an interview, Huffman remarked, "Looking back, I understand that it was a grave mistake. However, at the time, it felt like I would be failing my daughter if I didn't go through with it. I was convinced that breaking the law was necessary if it meant ensuring my daughter a better future."
