Reason #23: Fraud

Reason #23: Fraud

Why do we need to defeat Donald Trump and ensure that a Democrat occupies the White House?

We have previously discussed the difference between lying and cheating and their adverse effects on individuals and society in general. What about “fraud”?

The dictionary defines fraud as

“wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain:”

and adds

“a person or thing intended to deceive others, typically by unjustifiably claiming or being credited with accomplishments or qualities”

As we have learned, Donald Trump was in indifferent student at grammar school, high school and college levels and pursued no graduate studies. It turned out that this lackluster background was no impediment to him assuming the role of “educator” and behind-the-scenes administrator of his very own school of higher learning.

Segueing off his then ongoing colossal failure as bankrupted owner of three competing Atlantic City casinos, the brilliant real estate entrepreneur decided to turn his dazzling business skills to higher education. In 2005, he opened the doors of Trump University (TU). It closed in 2010, amidst a flurry of legal actions.

An immediate problem arose; New York State informed him that his school did not qualify as a “university”. Furthermore, it was a violation of state law for him to call it such. Trump brushed aside the warning, claiming that Stanford, Columbia, and Northwestern Universities endorsed TU and began enrolling students. The three universities have denied any association with TU. Over the ensuing eight years, three major lawsuits were leveled against the ostensible university, two in California and one in New York state, together representing more than six thousand former students who had been bilked by the scheme. The Attorney General called Trump University

“a classic bait-and-switch scheme. It was a scam, starting with the fact that it was not a university.”

Trump countered by claiming that 98% of students gave TU a high survey rating. If this were true, it is paradoxical that 32% requested refunds, including 16% of those who had signed on for the Gold Package seminar, priced at $35,000. Ultimately, 3,700 former TU students participated in the lawsuits.

Donald Trump eventually settled the suits for $25,000,000, the lion’s share going to reimburse TU students.

Ulrich Boser et al summarize the Trump University saga as follows.

“Trump University was no institution of higher learning. Seminars were often a matter of successive sales pitches, at times urging customers to cash out their savings and max out their credit cards for a higher-priced program. In the end, more than 6,000 students seem to have essentially received a theatre-style sales presentation when they should have received a deep and robust real estate education. Some people who entered the program in the hopes of finding a meaningful pathway to prosperity instead found a salesperson who preyed on their financial solvency.

The misrepresentation of Trump University is but another testament to Trump’s willingness to manipulate others for the sake of a larger paycheck, and Trump seems to have capitalized on his television celebrity and appealed to consumers’ fascination with his reality show persona.

https://www.americanprogress.org/…/trump-university…

The record shows Donald Trump to be a liar, a cheat and a fraudster.

Have a heart; use your mind, search your conscience, and vote for Democratic candidates – across the ballot – on November. 5th.

Please share this message with your friends and please, add your thoughts, to expand upon what are only brief sketches here.

Fred Grannis

August 8, 2024


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