Lisa RinnabelievesErika Girardiwas mostly in the dark about her estranged husband Tom Girardi’s alleged shady financial dealings.
OnWatch What Happens Live! withAndy CohenWednesday, Lisa, 58, addressed herReal Housewives of Beverly Hillscostar’s legal controversies, which are now playing out on the reality show. As host Cohen asked fans at home to weigh in on how much they think Erika knew of the alleged crimes, he also gauged Rinna’s opinion on whether Erika, 50, was in on any of it.
Rinna said she’s grown especially close to Erika over the years and the two remain in touch when the show is not filming.
“You know, I talk to Erika when Erika wants to talk. I can’t really give it a timeframe. But let’s put it this way: I’m closer with Erika than I’ve been with anybody in this circle,” she said. “I have become close friends with Erika over the six years. I’m much closer to her than I’ve been to any of those women. So that is important to know, I think.”
Erikafiled for divorcefrom the former attorney, 82, in November after 21 years of marriage, telling PEOPLE at the time, “This is not a step taken lightly or easily. I have great love and respect for Tom and for our years and the lives we built together.”
Since then, theReal Housewives of Beverly Hillsstar and her ex have weathered variouslegal controversiesin the public eye.
Lisa Rinna (left) and Erika Girardi.Getty (2)
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The court ultimatelyruled in favor of the creditors, ordering that Erika’s accountant Michael Ullman, divorce lawyer Larry Ginsburg and landlord Benjamin Khakshour turn over various “key documents,” including her pay stubs, bank statements and any emails and text messages pertaining to her finances.
Erika has also been accused of conspiring with Tom and using her “notoriety” tohide assetsas the bankruptcy trustee continues to investigate both Tom and his firm.
In addition to his legal woes, Tom has been diagnosed withdementia and Alzheimer’s diseaseand placed under aconservatorship. After his younger brother Robert was named as his temporary conservator in February, the appointment was thenmade permanentin June.
“It’s obviously a heartbreaking situation for Robert, but we agree with the court’s rulings yesterday,” Robert’s lawyer, Nicholas Van Brunt, said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time.
RELATED VIDEO: Tom Girardi’s Law Firm Auctioning Off Julia Roberts Poster, Furniture and More amid Bankruptcy
On Wednesday’s episode ofRHOBH, the tension between the cast members heightened as some of the women questionedwhether they could trust Erika afterthe allegations became public.
Kyle Richardsquestioned Erika’s fate amid theembezzlement scandal, and Sutton Stracke said “there’s going to have to be some reconciliation where she goes to court.”
“If she did receive $20 million from the firm, that money should be going back to allthe victims [of the embezzlement case],” Sutton said, adding that she thought “the money is gone.”
After Garcelle Beauvais and Crystal Kung Minkoff discussed the bombshellLos Angeles Timesexposé about Erika and Tom away from the group, Garcelle pointed out in a confessional that she “can’t imagine this article came out without [Erika] getting a head’s up” beforehand. “[It] would explain why she flipped out at me and she left La Quinta,” Garcelle continued. “It happened to be me, but I think it could have been anybody.”
Erika and Tom Girardi.Steve Eichner/AP
Kyle suggested she believed Erika knew about the article and likely “left” their trip because of it. “I mean, this article is implying that Erika was complicit and knew everything,” Kyle said.
Sutton chimed in, “I hate to be devil’s advocate here. Maybe she didn’t know. But if her name is on that LLC, she is responsible for that LLC. She’s responsible for where the money comes from.”
source: people.com
