This would be enough to make someone flip their wig:
The New York State attorney general’s office filed a civil lawsuit on Saturday accusing Trump University, Donald J. Trump’s for-profit investment school, of engaging in illegal business practices.
The lawsuit, which seeks restitution of at least $40 million, accused Mr. Trump, the Trump Organization and others involved with the school of running it as an unlicensed educational institution from 2005 to 2011 and making false claims about its classes in what was described as “an elaborate bait-and-switch.”
In a statement, Eric T. Schneiderman, the attorney general, said Mr. Trump appeared in advertisements for the school making “false promises” to persuade more than 5,000 people around the country — including 600 New Yorkers — “to spend tens of thousands of dollars they couldn’t afford for lessons they never got.”
The advertisements claimed, for instance, that Mr. Trump had handpicked instructors to teach students “a systematic method for investing in real estate.” But according to the lawsuit, Mr. Trump had not chosen even a single instructor at the school and had not created the curriculums for any of its courses.
“No one, no matter how rich or famous they are, has a right to scam hardworking New Yorkers,” Mr. Schneiderman said in the statement. “Anyone who does should expect to be held accountable.”
The inquiry into Trump University came to light in May 2011 after dozens of people had complained to the authorities in New York, Texas, Florida and Illinois about the institution, which attracted prospective students with the promise of a free 90-minute seminar about real estate investing that, according to the lawsuit, “served as a sales pitch for a three-day seminar costing $1,495.” This three-day seminar was itself “an upsell,” the lawsuit said, for increasingly costly “Trump Elite” packages that included so-called personal mentorship programs at $35,000 a course.
They were encouraged to sign up for a “Trump elite mentorship program” that cost anywhere from $10,000 to $35,000 per person.
All the while, the organization billed itself as Trump University, even though it was put on notice by the state Education Department as far back as 2005 that it was not licensed to call itself a university.
Trump University officially became the Trump Entrepreneur Institute in 2010.
chneiderman’s office says “dozens and dozens” of complaints have been filed.
The lawsuit names Trump as chairman of the institute and Michael Sexton as the organization’s former president.
It alleges “persistent fraud” and seeks to repay all 5,000 customers. It also seeks additional penalties and fines.
Trump dismissed Schneiderman’s allegations, claiming on a website that 98% of his students are satisfied.
And Trump has responded with Tweets..pointing to a website extolling the virtues of the university:
"@abimlebt: Eric Schneiderman trying to get himself an image as a strong man is suing @realDonaldTrump. Bad choice, Trump will eat him alive
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2013
AND:
"@dszippit: "Trump University" Liberal Witch Hunt I hope they lose,and get counter sued.@realDonaldTrump"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 25, 2013
It’s funny how people now think they can use the word “liberal” and it somehow discredits charges made about someone or defines them.
Mr. Trump: You’d be far better off if you just make your case as to why you believe this lawsuit is wrong.
Liberal schmiberal. It’s about another issue and if the lawsuit is a bunch of bilge, then show why.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.