2/21/2019

LAWSUIT/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP FAMILY: “U.S. President Donald Trump and his adult children on Thursday [2-21-19] urged a federal judge to dismiss a racketeering lawsuit accusing them of using the family name to promote sham marketing opportunities to vulnerable, financially struggling investors. Calling the lawsuit ‘implausible,’ the Trump family said in a filing in federal court in Manhattan that the four plaintiffs failed to prove there was fraud or intent to cause harm, or that any statements by Donald Trump caused losses. A spokeswoman for the plaintiffs, who went by pseudonyms, had no immediate comment. They accused the Trump family of having received millions of dollars of secret payments from 2005 to 2015 to endorse American Communications Network, which charged $499 for a chance to sell videophones and other goods, and two other businesses. The lawsuit said the Trumps deliberately conned victims into believing Donald Trump stood behind the investments and thought they would pay off, when the real goal was to enrich themselves. They said this violated a federal anti-racketeering law known as RICO.”

Reuters, “Trump, Adult Children Urge Dismissal of Marketing Scam Lawsuit,” The New York Times online, February 21, 2019