A federal judge in San Diego has decided to put off until after the November presidential election a civil trial involving “Trump University.” Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump is a defendant in the suit. By the court’s decision, Trump dodges a bullet: the case had been slated for trial this summer – around the time of the GOP convention in July – and could, at the very least, have been a major distraction from the campaign.
The trial is now scheduled to begin on November 28.
The plaintiffs claim to have been defrauded by a scheme in which they were induced to pay money for courses that would teach Trump’s methods for making big money in real estate – a venture touted by Trump and his co-defendants as Trump University. There are factual disputes over whether it was appropriate to market the venture as a “university,” and whether Trump knew much about the instructors, who were touted in marketing materials as “hand-picked” by the mogul. Trump disputes the allegations, asserting that useful information was conveyed in the courses and that some of those now complaining have previously given testimonials praising the program.
Politico’s Josh Gerstein has details, here.
Trump University Trial Pushed Back Until After Election