Donald Trump Sued By NY Attorney General in $40 Million ‘Trump University’ Fraud Case

The very anti-gay, birther conspiracist, perennial presidential candidate, and all around arrogant egomaniac Donald Trump is being sued by the Attorney general of the state of New York in a $40 million lawsuit that accuses the billionaire of fraud over his “Trump University” how-to-get-rich business. A look at a web archive of the Trump University site from 2005 shows courses titled:

Buy Properties Below Market Value (RE251)
Find hidden riches in distressed properties
Make Quick Profits in Any Real Estate Market (RE252)
Buy, fix and sell investment properties
The CEO Success Codes (EN251)
Run Your Business the Trump Way
Fast Forward MBA (MA251)
Learn what they teach in the top business schools
The Trump Way To Wealth (TWTW)
Donald Trump and his hand-picked team of business experts show you the secrets to building wealth in seven audio classes.
Wealth Builder’s Blueprint (HKBWWB)
Donald Trump and his hand-picked team of wealth creation experts teach you the secrets to building wealth and achieving massive financial success.

“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,” the AP reports:

“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.”
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, but it has been dogged since by complaints from consumers and a few isolated civil lawsuits claiming it didn’t fulfill its advertised claims.
At the seminars, consumers were told about “Trump Elite” mentorships that cost $10,000 to $35,000. Students were promised individual instruction until they made their first deal. Schneiderman said participants were urged to extend the limit on their credit cards for real estate deals, but then used the credit to pay for the Trump Elite programs. The attorney general said the program also failed to promptly cancel memberships as promised.

Here’s a screenshot from a 2005 archive of the Trump University site:

Of course, Trump is denying any wrongdoing — and claiming “extortion” because he donated to the Attorney general’s election campaign in 2010.

The attorney general notes the $40 million would be used to get them their money back.