In advance of 'Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In,' Joe Giudice talks about his prison sentence and infidelity rumors but won't discuss his possible deportation
In a new interview in advance of his "Real Housewives of New Jersey" special, reality star and soon-to-be-federal inmate Joe Giudice told the "Today" show that he took the fall for his currently incarcerated wife Teresa in their federal fraud cause, but continued to deny that he was aware of his wrongdoings at the time.
The couple pleaded guilty last year to bankruptcy fraud and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud in a scheme that dated back to 2001, years before they vaulted into the pop culture consciousness. Prosecutors alleged that the couple submitted fake W-2s and tax returns in order to obtain millions in mortgages and construction loans, and then hid income and assets in their 2009 bankruptcy filing.
Asking by "Today" reporter Tamron Hall whether he thought he was doing anything illegal, Joe answered, "No. I was just signing my name. I would never fill out anything. I wasn't an accountant. I wasn't a mortgage person. I wasn't a banker."
"I'm not I didn't do anything wrong or illegal," he said at another point in the interview, "but there was definitely people behind talking to them and telling 'em we did this and telling 'em we did that to bring it to their attention. And, you know, being in the public eye didn't help."
The interview took place in the vaulted entrance of the Giudices' Montville Township mansion, which they tried to offload for $3.9 million before their lender instigated foreclosure proceedings earlier this year. (In August, their Manahawkin summer home was sold back to the bank for $100 in a foreclosure auction.)
PHOTOS: Joe and Teresa Giudice's Montville mansion in foreclosure
Joe is scheduled to report to federal prison for his 41-month sentence in March, according to "Today." Teresa will be released from the Federal Correctional Institute in Danbury, Conn., just before for Christmas, but she will serve the remainder of her term, until Feb. 5. under house arrest.
Joe tells Hall that he doesn't think about his prison sentence, "because if you do that, you're just gonna drive yourself crazy, and there's no point." And he didn't answer at all when Hall asked him about the prospect of being deported to his native Italy once he serves his prison term.
MORE: Your questions answered about Teresa Giudice's prison sentence
He also denied persistent tabloid reports that he dated other women while Teresa has been in the pen. Of photos taken of him with a younger woman at dinner, he said, "That person just happened to be out one night with a friend of mine that knew her and they came and sat at the table. And somehow pictures got taken, and that's how that 'date' came about. Listen, anybody does anything for money, so, if they feel they can make a couple bucks, they're gonna make it. They're gonna say whatever they wanna say."
Joe also spoke to Entertainment Tonight in the publicity blitz for Bravo's three-part special "The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In," which will begin airing Sunday night at 8 p.m. He told ET that Teresa has been keeping busy reading and working out and doing her job, which requires her to wipe down tables.
"She's holding up," Joe tells ET. "I can't say she's doing great but she looks good. She keeps her spirits up and tries to make us feel like she's okay but she's really not. She wants to be home."
Vicki Hyman may be reached at vhyman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @vickihy. Find NJ.com/Entertainment on Facebook.
We'll be recapping the "Real Housewives of New Jersey" special every Sunday night. In the meantime, check out our new podcast TV Hangover, where TV critic Vicki Hyman and TV super fan Erin Medley talk about all things small screen, highbrow and low.
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