Contrite Felicity Huffman Pleads Guilty in College Admissions Scandal While Lori Loughlin Lies Low

Actress Felicity Huffman pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the college admissions scandal that found 50 parents and school officials indicted last month.

“I am ashamed,” Huffman said on Monday.

In her plea, the former “Desperate Housewives” star took full responsibility for her involvement in the cheating scheme. Huffman admits to paying $15,000 disguised as a charitable donation to have her daughter’s S.A.T. answers altered by the proctor following the exam.

She also said her daughter knew nothing of the deal and realizes now she betrayed and embarrassed her daughter.

“This transgression toward her and the public I will carry for the rest of my life,” Huffman said. “My desire to help my daughter is no excuse to break the law or engage in dishonesty.”

According to court documents, Huffman’s husband, actor William H. Macy was allegedly in on the scheme but for unknown reasons, he has not been officially charged in the scandal.

Some are still refusing to admit wrongdoing.

In the meantime, 15 others indicted in the scandal were hit with new, superseding indictments today for conspiring to commit fraud and money laundering, including actress Lori Loughlin and her husband, Mossimo Gianulli. This possibly explains why Loughlin wasn’t included in the plea deals 14 parents accepted on Monday, including actress Felicity Huffman.

Some are pointing to Loughlin’s demeanor in court and behavior outside the courthouse as possible reasons the actress and her husband are being hit harder by prosecutors.

“The optics look horrible for Lori Loughlin. The court wants to see that you’re taking this seriously, that you’re remorseful, that you’re accountable for your actions and not treating it like it’s a concert. It’s a very serious proceeding with serious charges with a lot of ramifications,” former New York state prosecutor Adam Citron explains. “It’s very serious – she should not have been treating this like it was a red carpet affair. She feels unquenchable – she’s not taking this seriously.”

“If I was her attorney, I would not be happy with how she acted.”

As with court officials, the public also prefers contrition from public figures and celebrities when they’ve been caught in wrongdoing. That Loughlin hasn’t made any statement of apology for her actions at this point could mean her return to the small screen could be delayed indefinitely.