# New York AG suing Trump , his foundation and his kids **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 14, 2018, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094 "2018-06-14T15:43:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/21 "2018-06-14T21:46:46Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > You guys are assuming the worst from Shodan, I’m willing to gibpve him the benefit of the doubt and assume he knows Trump Foundation is a cesspool and Clinton Foundation is not. I think this is the first example I’ve seen of a reverse woosh. That is, a case where people get indignant about a comment they think you made facetiously, when in fact you were being serious? ---
**Author:** ![DinoR](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dinor/32/2821_2.png) [@DinoR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DinoR)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/22 "2018-06-14T21:55:26Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Trouble is he just needs one cult member on any jury or 34 Republicans in the Senate, and nothing happens. Just a [quick look](https://www.sullivangalleshaw.com/new-york-city-jury-trials-civil-cases/) shows that New York only requires 5 of 6 jurors to agree in a civil trial. There’s also a question in whether a jury trial is even applicable for the specifics of this case. The Senate doesn’t necessarily help. The Paula Jones civil lawsuit against Bill Clinton was allowed to proceed without impeachment. It was actions under oath as part of that proceeding that **later** led to impeachment in the House. > [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > Possibly this makes more sense to ask in GQ but does anyone know if there’s a reason that this is a lawsuit rather than a criminal proceeding? Potentially, it’s related to a decision about how good the case is. Civil trials have a lower burden of proof. It’s a preponderance of the evidence (sometimes stated as more likely than not.) It’s not the higher beyond a reasonable doubt standard that would be needed to get a criminal conviction. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/23 "2018-06-14T22:03:25Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I was a bit bummed when I read about Nixon and how it took two years to get rid of him… Nixon’s political career began in 1946. It took us TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS to get rid of him. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/24 "2018-06-14T22:46:26Z")
So they’re finally following up on that? It was before the election that New York investigators realized that the “foundation” had never even filed the paperwork to be considered a charity. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/25 "2018-06-14T22:48:18Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Nixon’s political career began in 1946. It took us TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS to get rid of him. Trump’s started [31 years ago](https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/02/donald-trump-first-campaign-speech-new-hampshire-1987-213595). ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2018, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/26 "2018-06-14T23:12:10Z")
> [@DinoR](#): > > Potentially, it’s related to a decision about how good the case is. Civil trials have a lower burden of proof. It’s a preponderance of the evidence (sometimes stated as more likely than not.) It’s not the higher beyond a reasonable doubt standard that would be needed to get a criminal conviction. Apparently, Underwood issued a series of referrals to the Feds and the IRS alongside the lawsuit filing. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/27 "2018-06-15T16:04:12Z")
Am I correct that this is a civil suit, that the Trump-family criminals aren’t being charged with any misdemeanors, let alone felonies? IANAL, obviously, but I am continually dismayed that, say, selling loosies on the sidewalk is a criminal offense, but bilking donors and taxpayer out of millions is not. I’m not asking for an _explanation_ of criminal codes, just to confirm whether this is another example where Mr. Bumble was right: “the law is a ass — a idiot.” ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/28 "2018-06-15T16:09:15Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > Cheeto has already tweeted that he is not settling this. > > [https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/14/politics/new-york-lawsuit-trump-foundation/index.html](https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/14/politics/new-york-lawsuit-trump-foundation/index.html) So, we can assume it will be settled soon. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/29 "2018-06-15T16:32:49Z")
Could the AG refuse to settle? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/30 "2018-06-15T16:38:00Z")
If they settle, who is actually going to pay the settlement? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/31 "2018-06-15T16:40:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If they settle, who is actually going to pay the settlement? I wouldn’t count on Cohen. Seems to me that it shouldn’t be a windfall for the state, the money should go to the unwitting donors. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/32 "2018-06-15T16:47:44Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If they settle, who is actually going to pay the settlement? Depends on if the NY AG accepts pounds of flesh. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/33 "2018-06-15T16:48:44Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I wouldn’t count on Cohen. > > Seems to me that it shouldn’t be a windfall for the state, the money should go to the unwitting donors. I’d be surprised if there were any “unwitting donors.” The name “Trump” was front and center, no one should be surprised it was all a scam. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/34 "2018-06-15T17:08:03Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I’d be surprised if there were any “unwitting donors.” The name “Trump” was front and center, no one should be surprised it was all a scam. Wasn’t some of it collected as donations for veterans organizations? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/35 "2018-06-15T17:22:43Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I do keep hoping to see something substantive. If people are to maintain any respect for American democracy, Trump needs to end up in prison along with his cronies. He has committed an endless number of crimes and corruptions and sold our country out to the Russians and Chinese. If all he gets is a pardon and then the next generation of democrats and republicans say ‘lets look forwards, not backwards’ then that will really damage faith in the US as a whole. It’ll also make the US more prone to authoritarianism and military coups, because the public won’t really respect the concept of democracy if it doesn’t actually work. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/36 "2018-06-15T17:31:42Z")
Trump’s broke. That’s the McGuffin, the crux of the biscuit. That’s why he’s grubbing for every penny he can lay a hand on. That’s why when people come over and sit on his couch, he checks it for change when they leave. He is hooked for $25 million for his Trump University, and, best I can tell, hasn’t paid a dime. Says he has billions, a billion is a thousand million. And can’t come up with 25? He’s scrambling to pay the vig on his debt load, just to keep the appearance of being afloat. Trump’s broke. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/37 "2018-06-15T17:34:50Z")
I think an honest accounting will find that after subtracting his debt obligations, Trump is at best worth 8 figures. Still a lot of money, but had he taken his dad’s inheritance and put it in index funds he would be an actual billionaire by now. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/38 "2018-06-15T18:15:56Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I think an honest accounting will find that after subtracting his debt obligations, Trump is at best worth 8 figures. > > Still a lot of money, but had he taken his dad’s inheritance and put it in index funds he would be an actual billionaire by now. I get so tired of this. Trump’s father died in 1999, long after Trump had written _The Art of the Deal_, gotten famous, put up a jillion buildings, bought Mar-A-Lago, Kashoggi’s yacht, etc. Trump’s father left an estate when he died of roughly 300 million dollars, which was split between Donald Trump and his siblings. The index fund thing is also inaccurate as it totally disregards the huge amount Trump has spent living over all those years If this board still wants to think of itself as the smartest on the internet, crap like this really needs to stop. This information is not only readily available but I’ve posted it many times here myself. I don’t like much of what Trump does and I didn’t vote for him, but facts, as they say, is facts. There is simply no merit to the father’s inheritance and index fund claims. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/39 "2018-06-15T19:53:46Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > I get so tired of this. Trump’s father died in 1999, long after Trump had written _The Art of the Deal_, gotten famous, put up a jillion buildings, bought Mar-A-Lago, Kashoggi’s yacht, etc. Trump’s father left an estate when he died of roughly 300 million dollars, which was split between Donald Trump and his siblings. > > The index fund thing is also inaccurate as it totally disregards the huge amount Trump has spent living over all those years > > If this board still wants to think of itself as the smartest on the internet, crap like this really needs to stop. This information is not only readily available but I’ve posted it many times here myself. I don’t like much of what Trump does and I didn’t vote for him, but facts, as they say, is facts. There is simply no merit to the father’s inheritance and index fund claims. My understanding was that the money in question was seed money that DJT received from his father back in the 70s. > **[Did dad’s ‘small loan’ launch Trump’s career? | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2015/10/26/opinions/dantonio-trump-small-loan-from-father/index.html)** > > Michael D’Antonio: Donald Trump understated the extent of the help he received from his father and others > **[Hyatt Grand Central New York](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Hyatt_New_York)** > > The Hyatt Grand Central New York is a hotel located at 109 East 42nd Street, adjoining Grand Central Terminal, in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. It operated as the 2,000-room Commodore Hotel between 1919 and 1976, before hotel chain Hyatt and real estate developer Donald Trump converted the hotel to the 1,400-room Grand Hyatt New York between 1978 and 1980. As of 2019\[update\], the hotel is planned to be replaced with a skyscraper named Project Commodore. > The New York Ce... Now, assuming Trump worked a job, then this $1m would not go into living expenses. And given that the examples that we’re talking about were saying that if Trump had simply put the money in stocks and sat on them (i.e., not actively managing nor living off dividends), then we would expect him to increased the $1m to $3.1b, according to this Dow Jones calculator: > **[Dow Jones Industrial Average Return Calculator, Dividends Reinvested](https://dqydj.com/dow-jones-return-calculator/)** > > A Dow Jones return calculator for total, dividend reinvested return on the Dow Jones Industrial Average from 1896 until this month, including inflation! And it should be noted, however you want to calculate it, the salient point is that there are some very good reasons to believe that Trump lives beyond his means and runs his businesses horribly. Which, true, has nothing to do with this particular little “what if” scenario, but it is a piece of evidence that he could have done better than he has. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094/40 "2018-06-15T20:14:22Z")
> [@Starving\_Artist](#): > > …put up a jillion buildings… I’m sorry, but what buildings has he put up(as opposed to slapping his name on them for PR purposes), and of the ones he actually put up how successful are they? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-york-ag-suing-trump-his-foundation-and-his-kids/816094.md?page=3)