Jurors in Tom Girardi’s Trial Quizzed About Watching ‘RHOBH’
Jurors in Tom Girardi’s Trial Quizzed About Watching ‘RHOBH’
As Tom Girardi’s high-profile wire fraud trial looms, prospective jurors are being scrutinized with an unusual twist — being questioned about their familiarity with The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
Tom Girardi’s trial for wire fraud is on the horizon, and the jury selection process is already spotlighting his ex-wife, Erika Jayne, with specific questions about her role on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
In Touch has acquired court documents revealing that potential jurors are being asked if they have watched “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” or other shows on the Bravo network.
One of the key questions in the jury questionnaire reads: “Have you watched shows or other media on the Bravo network?” Another query asks, “Have you seen, heard or read any other form of media, like podcasts, social media, blogs, etc. related to The Real Housewives or The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills?”
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This focus on media consumption comes as Tom Girardi, 85, prepares to face trial for allegedly embezzling over $15 million from clients during his tenure as an attorney.
The charges stem from a 2023 indictment where the disgraced attorney was accused of fraudulently diverting funds intended for families affected by a 2018 plane crash — a case he had worked on as their lawyer. He faces eight counts of wire fraud and four counts of criminal contempt of court, as handed down by a federal grand jury in Chicago.
“The substantial misappropriation alleged in this indictment compounded the grief and anguish of the clients who lost loved ones in the Lion Air crash,” U.S. Attorney John R. Lausch, Jr. said in a statement at the time. “Attorneys who violate the trust of their clients and breach a fiduciary duty that is paramount to the practice of law must be held accountable.”
Girardi’s legal troubles have cast a long shadow over his ex-wife, Erika Jayne, 53, who filed for divorce from him in November 2020, just one minute after his legal woes were made public. Initially, Erika was implicated in the allegations but was cleared from the lawsuit in January 2022.
The scandal became a central narrative during seasons 11 and 12 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, where Erika staunchly maintained her innocence. In one notable moment, she defended herself during a conversation with Kyle Richards, saying,
“My divorce is not a sham. It’s just not. Nobody wants to be in the position I’m in right now. It is really unenviable. Being the possible target of a federal criminal investigation is like, not cool.” Erika continued, “To have all those things said about you which are not true, and then to have everyone, basically, question everything. It’s lonely and it’s quiet and you would be shocked by how quickly people turn on you. How quickly people distance themselves from you. Automatically, they turn because they don’t want to be involved. They were there when it was good, though.”
While some of her castmates supported Erika through her tumultuous period, others, like Denise Richards, questioned her narrative. During a heated exchange on Season 13, Kyle confronted Erika, asking, “And you’re the one that claims you didn’t know $20 million dollars was deposited in your f–king account?”
In February, Erika also made headlines by visiting three of Tom’s victims — Josie Hernandez, Nancy Marston, and Kathy Ruigomez — during an episode of the docuseries Housewife and the Hustler 2. The visit was part of a broader effort to address the ongoing fallout from the scandal.
“With Erika meeting with the victims, and with everything happening with Tom Girardi in court related to his competency last year, it felt like the right time to make this documentary,” ABC News producer Jake Lefferman told Variety at the time.
As the trial approaches, the legal and personal drama surrounding Tom Girardi and Erika Jayne continues to capture public attention, with the jury selection process now putting a spotlight on the media’s role in the high-profile case.
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Avigail is an Entertainment blogger at All About The Tea, who specializes in The Real Housewives of Atlanta and The Real Housewives of Potomac. Avigail has a background in marketing. She’s a Brooklynite living in the Bahamas, with a passion for travel, writing, reality TV watching, pop culture and spoken word.