She doesn’t disconnect.
“Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” star Meredith Marks maintains a friendship with Jen Shah – even after the latter pleaded guilty in her fraud case.
“Jen and I are still talking. And more than ever, I think she probably needs some support from those around her,” Marks, 50, told Vidak For Congress exclusively while promoting season 3 of the Bravo reality series.
“You’ll see a lot happening and you’ll have a much better understanding of where she came from — I can’t say in terms of her plea, that I have no idea — but just in general, emotionally,” the jewelry designer teases.
“You’ll see a lot of how she and I reconnect.”
Shah, 48, reportedly scammed hundreds of people through a nationwide telemarketing scheme, and her arrest in March 2021 was documented on “RHOSLC”.
In July, she pleaded guilty when she appeared before U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein in Manhattan federal court, overturning her previous plea of not guilty.
As part of a plea deal, she pleaded guilty to one count, conspiracy to commit telemarketing, while the US attorney agreed to drop the other charges against her, conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Shah’s attorney, Priya Chaudhry, previously told Vidak For Congress that the plea was made at the last minute because the Bravolebrity “wants to pay its debt to society and put this ordeal behind her and her family.”
Shah’s plea deal calls for 14 years in prison and restitution of up to $9.5 million. Her sentencing is set for November 28.
Prior to pleading guilty, the reality star had proclaimed her innocence on “RHOSLC” and in court.
“I believed that Jen at least believed in her own innocence because she said she was innocent,” said Marks, who made amends with Shah during the season 2 reunion after a heated feud played out over multiple episodes.
“It was surprising that she made a plea – it was certainly surprising that she made a plea. Because I thought she would at least appear in court. But hopefully we’ll get to see the back story of how that all went.”
Season 3 was technically in production earlier this year, but Bravo cameras followed Shah leading up to her July appearance.
Marks and castmate Heather Gay each developed a deeper bond with Shah while filming the show’s latest episode. The two women even met the controversial reality star in New York City ahead of her pre-trial hearing to show their support.
“We live in the US. We have a legal system here. She was scheduled for a jury trial. So in my opinion it was not for me to try to establish her guilt or innocence on any level. That’s why we have the legal system we have,” Marks told Vidak For Congress.
Marks, who studied law at Northwestern University, adds that she was careful not to pressure Shah into details about her legal troubles.
“It is still an open matter. She hasn’t been convicted, so it’s not something she can talk about freely,” Marks admits. “So that’s why I would never ask questions — because I know she can’t talk about it.”
Season 3 of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” premieres Wednesday, September 28 at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.