Number 2: The Trump University Trump University started with online courses that would supposedly give its students the secrets behind successful real estate development. It quickly evolved into live-seminars that boasted about teaching people ‘how to get rich’. Although the initial three days seminars were free, many students were persuaded to take ‘mentorship classes’ for which they would pay up to $35,000.
They were even encouraged to go into debt in order to pay for the Elite programs. Students were told that the instructors had been personally selected by Donald Trump and that the businessman himself would make appearances. They soon found that what the ‘university’ had promised and what it delivered were two different things. Trump never made an appearance, and even though the university initially had some prestigious teachers, the quality of the teaching staff rapidly deteriorated. It quickly became obvious that the organization was closer to a scam than an actual educational institution https://uscasinosguide.com/online-casino-for-usa-players/. Ronald Schnackenberg, a former salesman for Trump University stated “Based upon my personal experience and employment, I believe that Trump University was a fraudulent scheme, and that it preyed upon the elderly and uneducated to separate them from their money.” Any positive reviews received by the school were determined to have been given under pressure. Trump University also offered graduate programs, post graduate programs and even doctorate programs. The ‘university’ was in fact in direct violation of New York law for operating without an educational license. Trump was sued by the city of New York for cheating students out of 40 million dollars. He also had two class action lawsuits in California. The school was closed in 2010 but the lawsuits are still ongoing. Number 1: Mafia Ties In the 80’s most of the concrete businesses in New York were controlled by organized crime. Many would argue that a man in Trump’s position, involved in construction and the casino business, would inevitably brush shoulders with members of such organizations. ‘In the meantime, I was a builder. I was never going to run for office.… I’d go by the lowest bid and I’d go by their track record, but I didn’t do a personal history of who they are’ he said. Although Trump has denied being deliberately involved with the Mafia, the evidence gathered from investigative journalists and through testimonies seems to dictate the opposite. Kenneth Shapiro was the partial owner of a site in Atlantic City, who Trump negotiated with when he was planning to build his first casino. Law enforcement described Shapiro as being an agent of Philadelphia mob boss Nicodemo “Little Nicky” Scarfo. Shapiro testified in front of a federal grand jury to giving the then Atlantic City mayor, Michael J. Matthews political contributions on Trump’s behalf. These contributions were meant to sway zoning permits and signs in Trump’s favor. A co-owner of the site was Dan Sullivan, whom many suspected had been behind the murder of Jimmy Hoffa. He had a lengthy criminal record and numerous ties to organized crime. Trump reportedly used him as a New York City labor consultant. In a 2005 interview, Trump admitted knowing full well that both men were involved with the Mafia, saying about Shapiro “He was like a third-rate, local, real estate mob guy. Nothing spectacular. And I, you know, I got lucky. I heard a rumor that Sullivan, because Sullivan was a great con man, I heard a rumor that Sullivan killed Jimmy Hoffa.” In a 2007 deposition Trump denied having ever been associated with members of organized crime which would make the businessman guilty of lying under oath. Trump Tower was also allegedly built by using concrete owned by the infamous Castellano family and Mafia chieftain Anthony ‘Fat Tony’ Salerno. Robert LiButti, a high stakes gambler and a renowned horse breeder, with ties to crime boss John Gotti was also among Trump’s reported mob connections. His casino was fined $450,000 dollars for giving LiButti nine luxury cars which were quickly converted to cash. Former president of the Trump Plaza casino, John O’Donnell described a 1988 meeting between LiButti and Trump. The meeting took place aboard Trump’s private helicopter and it involved negotiations over the acquisition of a $500,000 racehorse. Upon learning that Trump had feelings for his daughter, Libutti allegedly threatened him ‘Donald, I'll fucking pull your balls from your legs.’ On two separate occasions, Trump both admitted and denied having known who Libutti was. Edith Creamer, Libutti’s daughter told Yahoo News "He's a liar, of course he knew him. I flew in the [Trump] helicopter with [Trump's then-wife] Ivana and the kids. My dad flew it up and down [to Atlantic City]. My 35th birthday party was at the Plaza and Donald was there.
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