It appears the movie stars are not the only ones who break the laws to get their kids a spot in an Ivy League School and that precious degree. One of these star-studded mothers served her extremely light term in jail, less than a month. Now, the Varsity Blues admissions scandal has walked into Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s office.
Advance staffer and Georgetown University graduate James Littlefair, who worked for Mnuchin, just stepped down after his mother Karen Littlefair of Newport Beach, California pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy per an agreement she signed November 11, 2019. She was caught up in the net of the admissions scandal.
Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors noted that she, too, had paid a consultant, William “Rick” Singer, $9,000 for one of his employees to take four of her son’s classes online. These classes originated at both Georgetown and Arizona State University from 2017 through 2018.
James Littlefair took those illegally-gained credits so that he could graduate from Georgetown in May 2018. His LinkedIn profile indicated that he attended the university from 2012 to 2016.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts has suggested that his mother serve four months in prison and pay a $9,500 fine, plus undergo 12 months of supervised release.
The Treasury Department employee worked as part of the national advance team for the Trump campaign prior to moving to the position of event coordinator for the 2017 Presidential Inaugural Committee. In March 2017, Littlefield began working for Mnuchin.
A Treasury spokesperson told POLITICO:
‘James Littlefair no longer works at the Treasury Department.’
Littlefair’s father Andrew Littlefair is the president and CEO of Clean Energy Fuels Corporation. Prior to that, he was the late billionaire T. Boone Pickens’ right-hand man. The two men founded his energy company.
The CEO was also an advance man for President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Littlefair currently serves as a member of the board of trustees for the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute.
Andrew Littlefair brought President Reagan’s Bible to Donald Trump’s inauguration. The new president was sworn into office on it. A spokeswoman for Littlefair refused to comment.
A friend of the son said he was a:
‘[V]ery proud Georgetown graduate, very involved in Georgetown activities, whether it’s basketball games or other alumni stuff.’
A Georgetown University spokesperson said the school has been enforcing tougher procedures to prevent online class cheating, and the school’s honor council would:
‘[I]investigate and adjudicate the case and may recommend sanctions up to and including the revocation of the student’s degree.’
Another friend of Littlefair said:
‘People make mistakes. I know he is a nice guy, and it just breaks my heart for him that according to the charges, he and his mother did something that should not have been done. I hope people will remember that he is a really good and very kind person and he is more than just making a really really poor decision.’
A Treasury official said that the student was:
‘[A] very well liked and respected member of the team at Treasury.’
Littlefield interned with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie in 2014. He has not been charged with a crime, and he declined to make a comment.
Arizona State University did not have a comment.
Featured image is a screenshot via YouTube.
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