Donald Trump has agreed to a $25 million settlement to end the fraud cases against his now-defunct Trump University, New York's attorney general said — a move that the president-elect said Saturday was done in order to "focus on the country."
The settlement likely means that Trump will avoid becoming possibly the first sitting president to testify in open court.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman called the settlement on Friday "a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university." Lawyers involved in the cases say the settlement applies to all three lawsuits against Trump University including two cases filed in California.
Trump commented on the settlement via Twitter on Saturday, telling his 15 million followers that the only "bad thing about winning the presidency" was not being able to fight the "long but winning" Trump University trial.
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Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad!
7:09 PM - 19 Nov 2016
11,769 11,769 Retweets 53,965 53,965 likes
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Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country.
7:04 PM - 19 Nov 2016
14,938 14,938 Retweets 78,724 78,724 likes
The trial for one of the cases had been scheduled to start Nov. 28.
The $25 million figure will be split among the students who sued, minus the legal fees.
Trump will also pay up to $1 million in penalties to the state of New York, Schneiderman said.
Former students of Trump University say the school fraudulently misrepresented what students would be taught and falsely claimed that instructors were handpicked by Trump.
During the campaign, Trump said Gonzalo Curiel, the federal judge in the San Diego case, was hostile to him.
"I believe he happens to be Spanish, which is fine. He is Hispanic, which is fine. And we haven't asked for recusal, which we may do," Trump said in May. "But we have a judge who is very hostile. Should've been thrown out. Wasn't thrown out."
The settlement likely means that Trump will avoid becoming possibly the first sitting president to testify in open court.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman called the settlement on Friday "a major victory for the over 6,000 victims of his fraudulent university." Lawyers involved in the cases say the settlement applies to all three lawsuits against Trump University including two cases filed in California.
Trump commented on the settlement via Twitter on Saturday, telling his 15 million followers that the only "bad thing about winning the presidency" was not being able to fight the "long but winning" Trump University trial.
Follow
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
The ONLY bad thing about winning the Presidency is that I did not have the time to go through a long but winning trial on Trump U. Too bad!
7:09 PM - 19 Nov 2016
11,769 11,769 Retweets 53,965 53,965 likes
Follow
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country.
7:04 PM - 19 Nov 2016
14,938 14,938 Retweets 78,724 78,724 likes
The trial for one of the cases had been scheduled to start Nov. 28.
The $25 million figure will be split among the students who sued, minus the legal fees.
Trump will also pay up to $1 million in penalties to the state of New York, Schneiderman said.
Former students of Trump University say the school fraudulently misrepresented what students would be taught and falsely claimed that instructors were handpicked by Trump.
During the campaign, Trump said Gonzalo Curiel, the federal judge in the San Diego case, was hostile to him.
"I believe he happens to be Spanish, which is fine. He is Hispanic, which is fine. And we haven't asked for recusal, which we may do," Trump said in May. "But we have a judge who is very hostile. Should've been thrown out. Wasn't thrown out."
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