Trump pardons dad charged in college admissions scandal
BOSTON (AP) — A prominent Miami developer and investor who was among a slew of wealthy parents charged with paying hefty bribes to get their children into elite universities was pardoned early Wednesday by President Donald Trump.
Robert Zangrillo was arrested in March 2019 in a college admissions bribery scheme that ensnared TV stars, businesspeople and athletic coaches across the U.S.
Federal prosecutors in Boston who brought the case, dubbed Operation Varsity Blues, accused Zangrillo of paying $250,000 to get his daughter into the University of Southern California as a transfer in 2018.
The White House said in a statement explaining its decision that Zangrillo's daughter “did not have others take standardized tests for her and she is currently earning a 3.9 GPA" at USC. The White House described him as a “well-respected business leader and philanthropist.”
A lawyer for Zangrillo and a USC spokesperson declined to comment.
Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said the pardon of Zangrillo, “who is charged with bribery and fraud, including having his own daughter knowingly participate in a scheme to lie to USC about her accomplishments and grades, illustrates precisely why Operation Varsity Blues was necessary in the first place.”
“It is the highest calling of the criminal justice system to hold all people equally to account, regardless of wealth or privilege,” Lelling said in a emailed statement.
Zangrillo, who founded the private investment firm Dragon Global, was accused of working with the corrupt admissions consultant at the center of the scheme to fraudulently get his daughter into USC a year after she was rejected.
Authorities said Zangrillo and the admissions consultant, Rick Singer, agreed to try to get her admitted as a crew recruit....