President-elect Donald Trump settled multiple Trump University civil lawsuits for $25 million on Friday, according to New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.
https://twitter.com/AGSchneiderman/status/799722900899172352
Considering Trump’s Twitter pronouncement in February, the fact that Trump did, in fact, give up is noteworthy.
Trump University has a 98% approval rating. I could have settled but won’t out of principle!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 29, 2016
In the past, Trump has been quoted as saying, “I don’t settle cases. I don’t do it because that’s why I don’t get sued very often, because I don’t settle, unlike a lot of other people.”
Despite what the Donald has to say, the settlement is also not surprising. Trump and his business reportedly are involved in more than 70 open lawsuits. Perhaps the most damaging was the Trump University fraudulent case, which was scheduled to begin Nov. 28. Three lawsuits were filed against Trump and his for-profit real estate school, alleging that he promised students who paid as much as $35,000 to hear Trump’s advice and then didn’t deliver.
The lawsuit also caused one of Trump’s most controversial moments on the campaign trail. In June, Trump said the federal judge overseeing the case, Gonzalo Curiel, wasn’t fit to preside because he had a conflict of interest due to his Hispanic heritage.
Even though I have a very biased and unfair judge in the Trump U civil case in San Diego, I have thousands of great reviews & will win case!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 2, 2016
Trump later softened his criticism, though it was an issue that dogged him throughout the summer. The Trump campaign had been trying to delay the trial until after he was inaugurated as president, but hadn’t found much success.
Now that the case is settled, though, Trump won’t have to admit fault and can move on from the legal matter.
Trump’s attorneys say president elect is pleased to have the suit behind him #TrumpUniversity
— Lauryn Schroeder (@LaurynSchroed) November 18, 2016
