Felicity Huffman
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What was the accusation?
On March 12, 2019, award-winning actress Felicity Huffman was arrested on charges announced by the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office as part of the national college admissions cheating scandal. Prosecutors said Huffman participated in a scheme designed to boost her daughter Sophia’s SAT score by paying $15,000 to facilitate cheating on the exam. The charges against Huffman included conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services fraud. News of Huffman’s arrest spread quickly, in part because she was a well-known television and film actress and because she was married to actor William H. Macy. Multiple parents, coaches, and admissions figures were charged in the broader scandal, although Macy was not charged.
Huffman released a public statement on April 8, 2019, when she agreed to plead guilty, accepting responsibility and apologizing to her daughter, family, colleagues, the educational community, and students who worked honestly to get into college. After being sentenced on September 13, 2019, she released another statement accepting the court’s decision and saying there were no excuses or justifications for her conduct. Huffman received a 14-day prison sentence, a $30,000 fine, supervised release, and community service. She ultimately served 11 days of the two-week sentence. Her public response emphasized mortification and corrective action by acknowledging guilt, accepting punishment, apologizing repeatedly, and promising to live more honestly and contribute positively after completing her sentence.
Key Apologia Strategies:
Mortification, Corrective Action
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Transcript
April 8, 2019 (1st Public Statement Pleading Guilty)
I am pleading guilty to the charge brought against me by the United States Attorney’s Office.
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.
I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family,
my friends, my colleagues and the educational community. I want to apologize to them
and, especially, I want to apologize 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.
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.
September 13, 2019 (Public Statement After Being Sentenced)
I accept the court’s decision today without reservation. I have always been prepared
to accept whatever punishment Judge [Indira] Talwani imposed. I broke the law.
I have admitted that and I pleaded guilty to this crime. There are no excuses
or justifications for my actions. Period.
I would like to apologize again to my daughter, my husband, my family
and the educational community for my actions. And I especially want to apologize
to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents
who make tremendous sacrifices supporting their children.
I have learned a lot over the last six months about my flaws as a person.
My goal now is to serve the sentence that the court has given me. I look forward
to doing my community service hours and making a positive impact on my community.
I also plan to continue making contributions wherever I can well after those service hours are completed.
I can promise you that in the months and years to come that I will try
and live a more honest life, serve as a better role model for my daughters and family
and continue to contribute my time and energies wherever I am needed.
My hope now is that my family, my friends and my community will forgive me for my actions.
Sources
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