Eva Longoria speaks out about Felicity Huffman's involvement in the college admissions scandal

Longoria was speaking at the HFPA banquet in Los Angeles 
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Megan C. Hills1 August 2019

Desperate Housewives may have ended seven years ago, but the bond between co-stars Eva Longoria and Felicity Huffman remains strong as ever. Longoria, who presented charitable grants at the HFPA banquet yesterday, was asked on the red carpet about Huffman’s current legal battle and involvement in the college admissions scandal.

In May, Huffman pleaded guilty and said she was in “full acceptance” of one count of mail fraud and honest services mail fraud in court. She paid £11,500 to have her daughter’s SAT exam answers changed in a bid to improve her chances of getting into a better university, and was one of many to allegedly do so in a conspiracy also known as "Operation Varsity Blues".

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After being asked by Entertainment Tonight about the situation, Longoria said, “I think she has a heart that is bigger than the sun and that's the Felicity I know and that's the woman I choose to support and love.”

“She was humbled by what happened and I think she did handle it with as much grace as she could in that situation,” Longoria continued.

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CNN reported that Huffman’s plea deal recommendation would potentially see her go to prison for four months, a lighter sentence given that she could have got 20 years based on the charges. Huffman, who is married to actor William H. Macy, also released a statement in which she said she felt “deep regret and shame” in her May court hearing.

Huffman said, “I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions.”

Felicity Huffman arrives at court in May 2019
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“I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community," Huffman continued. "I want to apologise to them and, especially, I want to apologise to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly.”

She also clarified that her elder daughter Sofia, who Huffman committed fraud on behalf of, “knew absolutely nothing” about her actions.

She continued, “My daughter knew absolutely nothing about my actions, and in my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her. This transgression toward her and the public I will carry for the rest of my life. My desire to help my daughter is no excuse to break the law or engage in dishonesty.”

Huffman will be formally sentenced on September 13.

Hollywood Foreign Press Association Banquet 2019 - In pictures

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