New York's attorney general sued Donald Trump for $40 million Saturday, saying the real estate mogul helped run a phony "Trump University" that promised to make students rich but instead steered them into expensive and mostly useless seminars, and even failed to deliver promised apprenticeships.
Trump shot back that the Democrat's lawsuit is false and politically motivated.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says many of the 5,000 students who paid up to $35,000 thought they would at least meet Trump but instead all they got was their picture taken in front of a life-size picture of "The Apprentice" TV star.
"Trump University engaged in deception at every stage of consumers' advancement through costly programs and caused real financial harm," Schneiderman said. "Trump University, with Donald Trump's knowledge and participation, relied on Trump's name recognition and celebrity status to take advantage of consumers who believed in the Trump brand."
Of course Trump, through his attorney, is firing back with, now try to act surprised, attacks on the Attorney General's character and motivation.
Personally I am of two minds on this story. On the one had seeing this grifter get bitch slapped by the legal system is very, very satisfying. However I have little sympathy for ANYBODY stupid enough to attend a "university" headed by one of the biggest frauds in the world.
I mean how stupid do you have to be in order to believe that you could be educated by Donald Trump?
I mean that would be like going to Glenn Beck University to learn about history.
What's next for these students, journalism classes taught by Sarah Palin?
God Gryphen, don't give her any ideas for how to take more money from her delusional flock. Her constant fleecing of these people is closing in on abuse of at risk people, don't push her over that edge.
ReplyDeleteDonald Trump on Monday defended his Trump University as a booming success for student entrepreneurs and blasted New York's attorney general, who called it a scam.
ReplyDeleteAttorney General Eric Schneiderman shot back that Trump is making wild accusations, just like others who commit fraud and get caught.
"We have a terrific school. It's done a fantastic job," Trump told ABC's "Good Morning America." "We have a 98 percent approval rating among students."
Trump held several TV interviews to further contest the lawsuit filed Saturday by Schneiderman, which alleges the real estate mogul helped run a phony university that promised to make students rich but instead steered them into expensive and mostly useless seminars.
"This is a political hack looking to get publicity," Trump said.
His attorney, Michael Cohen, said Saturday that Schneiderman was upset the reality TV star didn't give him more campaign contributions, which he claims Schneiderman sought even while investigating Trump University. Cohen called it extortion.
Trump, in interviews with "Good Morning America" and NBC's "Today," denied Schneiderman's claims that he never met with students and didn't pick instructors.
"I was totally involved to a very high degree," he said. "I told people what to do, and if they had listened to me, it would have made a lot of money."
Schneiderman wouldn't specifically say if he solicited any donations from Trump during the two-year investigation. The attorney general's office released this statement from Schneiderman in response to Trump's accusations: "Prosecutors are all used to persons who commit fraud making wild accusations when they're caught."
"This is just an effort to distract from the substance of the case," the Democrat said. "The substance of the case, he has not rebutted in any way shape or form."
Schneiderman is suing Trump and Trump University for $40 million, accusing them of engaging in persistent fraud, illegal and deceptive conduct and violating federal consumer protection law. He says the developer of hotels, casinos and more also failed to deliver promised apprenticeships.
On Saturday, after he filed the lawsuit, Schneiderman told The Associated Press: "No one, no matter how rich or famous they are, has a right to scam hard working New Yorkers."
State Education Department officials had told Trump to change the name of his enterprise years ago, saying it lacked a license and didn't meet the legal definitions of a university. In 2011, it was renamed the Trump Entrepreneur Institute.
Schneiderman claims many of the 5,000 students who paid up to $35,000 thought they would at least meet Trump, but instead, all they got was their picture taken in front of a life-size picture of "The Apprentice" star.
That's at odds with Trump's contention that 98 percent of students surveys rated the program as "excellent."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/26/donald-trump-eric-schneiderman_n_3816787.html
NY AG Dismisses Trump: Obama and I ‘Have More Important Things to Talk About’
DeleteNew York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman appeared on CNN’s New Day Monday morning to refute the attacks Donald Trump has been making against him since he filed a $40 million fraud lawsuit over “Trump University” on Saturday.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ny-ag-dismisses-trump-obama-and-i-have-more-important-things-to-talk-about/
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ny-ag-dismisses-trump-obama-and-i-have-more-important-things-to-talk-about/
“He’s a showman, and he doesn’t seem to think there’s such a thing as a bad headline,” Schneiderman said. “It probably would be better if he was listening to his lawyers.”
DeleteThe suit alleges Trump “bait and switched” students with an expensive but worthless education taught by underqualified professors. Trump went on offense over the weekend via a website and television appearances, accusing Schneiderman of soliciting campaign donations from Trump, and acting at the behest of President Barack Obama.
“Prosecutors are all used to people who commit fraud making wild accusations when they’re caught,” Schneiderman said. “It’s just an effort to distract from the substance of the case.”
Schneiderman dismissed Trump’s accusations that he and Obama were in collusion.
“The President and I had much more important stuff to talk about than Donald Trump,” Schneiderman said. “I’ve never discussed Mr. Trump with the President of the United States.”
Watch the full interview below, via New Day:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/ny-ag-dismisses-trump-obama-and-i-have-more-important-things-to-talk-about/
"I was totally involved to a very high degree," he said. "I told people what to do, and if they had listened to me, it would have made a lot of money."
DeleteI find this statement to be very interesting. Who was running the school? Were there other grifters who just used his name and ugly mug to fleece people out of money?
I agree. Those who signed up were foolish, but unless the contract said they would get time with Trump in person, he is probably free.
ReplyDeleteThe guy has been nothing more than a common THIEF for his entire life...and that fact is very obvious.
ReplyDeleteI suspect the motives of kids who wanted to be his "students" were not to become respected businessmen and women, but to mimic this turd and steal from people, to get rich.
Don't give her ideas, Gryph, do NOT give her ideas! HAHAHAHAHAHA
ReplyDeleteJournalism classes? I worked at a newspaper when she was running for governor. It was clear she was extremely uncomfortable in the company of real journalists doing real work. She has a glib and glad-hander persona some people confuse with engagement. What a charlatan.
ReplyDeleteHow many state and local loans did these students take out in order to "enroll" in this bogus "school."
ReplyDeleteThat, alone, should bring indictments. Was the school accredited? (no). Did it fulfill the promises laid out in its brochures? Were the publications vague enough in terms of faculty, credits, placement?
Poor, uneducated young people were fooled by his scam. At the very least, Trump should refund any cash they paid, and be on the hook for any government loans they took out. He's a Barnarm and Bailey, all on his own, and he doesn't know how to make a real buck when scamming others is so easy. Also illegal.
They wouldn't be eligible for student loans. It's not a degree program.
DeleteBristol and Track Palin's public relation consultants claim they are planning on going to college. This really puts to screws to that one.
ReplyDeleteI have my suspicions of all those people who speak at motivational meetings. They are full of "entrepreneur this" and "entrepreneur that"; meaningless drivel with perhaps some glossy handouts that are equally meaningless. But, the poor suckers, they pay a lot for the pleasure of being told they're "entrepreneurs." I say: "Buyer beware."
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Expecting contrition from Trump is....is....well....the definition of insanity.....do you think he'll take to throwing soup cans at the ,,,,Butler?
ReplyDeleteIn his deluded mind, Donald Trump thinks he epitomizes class and glamour. In reality he is vulgar.
ReplyDeleteTrump's "screw-niversity" isn't any worse than any other for-profit "college" or "university" that's popped up in the last few years. Those phony "institutions" only exist to help gullible, well-intentioned people throw away their Pell grants or military tuition benefits on worthless "education" programs.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shameful, but legal, sham, unchallenged by the very government agencies whose money is being wasted.
I find Trump repulsive! Cannot imagine sharing the same bed w/the guy. Yuke! Hope this lawsuit gets him where it hurts - money and his crummy reputation which is pretty non existent!
ReplyDeleteYou have noticed haven't you that NONE of his kids have attended his college? That should tell you something right there!
ReplyDeleteMy cousin attended a few classes with Ivanka (the daughter he had with the other foreign import) at the University of Penn. Said she was an affable, down to earth, vibrantly living student just like the rest, except she stayed in a penthouse and was flown by heelicopter on weekends to stay with Pappy Hemorrhoid lips.
DeleteI doubt very much that President Obama loses any sleep worrying about Donald Trump!
ReplyDeleteBeaglemom
Interesting All In tonight....Trump must be fuming......
ReplyDeleteI watched Diane Sawyer and they did a clip on this topic. This idiot old fart feels like he got ripped off of his thirty five grand. Should have seen the sad puppy dog look on his face. Someone on Donald's behalf whipped out a form he makes the students fill out when they "matriculate", the guy gave him all "Excellent" ratings.
ReplyDeleteThe reporter got Trump on the phone and he accused her of trying to use him to further her career.
Bwahhhaaaa! Pay the fine, your windswept toupee is embarrassed and thinking of doing a "toupeenado" movie!
Trump is so stupid -- that denial is so obviously a lie. Oh! He was heavily involved -- and yet he didn't pick the teachers...what?
ReplyDeleteHe so totally got away with scamming that woman in Chicago, though, so I'm sure he'll get out of this.
When Palin starts her journalism school, she can hire Brianus as an adjunct professor and she can use an inflatable doll of herself for the students to pose in front of instead of some cheapo cardboard cutout like Trump did. She'll show Trump she has more class than he does. After all, she got all her lessons in class when she met Ivana in an Alaska department store.
ReplyDelete