Attorneys for Trump have filed a motion requesting that a class-action fraud lawsuit against the now defunct Trump University, scheduled to head to trial on 28 November, instead be delayed until after the now President-Elect is sworn into office on 20 January. The filing argues that delaying the trial will give parties more time to negotiate a settlement, but adds that Trump will likely be too busy preparing to move into the White House. ‘The 69 days until inauguration are critical and all-consuming,’ said Trump lawyer Daniel Petrocelli, arguing that Mr Trump should not be required to stand trial until after he has taken office.  

Fraud allegations

The class-action lawsuit was first brought in 2010 on behalf of students of the now defunct Trump University – an institution set up by Trump to deliver an ‘elite’ package of seminars that promised to reveal the real estate mogul’s industry secrets. The lawsuit argues that the ‘university’ operated across the United States under the guise of being an accredit school, which it wasn’t, and urged students to pay up to $35,000 to receive mentorship from Trump’s ‘hand-picked’ advisors.  Trump owned 92 per cent of Trump University and was purportedly responsible for most of the decision making associated with its running, though he has since claimed that he relied on others to oversee the venture. Two similar lawsuits have also been filed in San Diego and New York.

Judge reluctant to delay

US District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel has seemed reluctant to delay the 6.5-year Trump University case any longer. However, he has appeared more open to Mr Petrocelli’s second request – that Trump be allowed to respond to questions from both sides via a videotaped deposition that would be played at the trial, either before the inauguration or after. The date and location of the taping would be kept secret until the trial, he proposed, and would keep Trump from needing to testify in person. Judge Curiel is expected to deliver a ruling on both requests later today.

Sources: Washington Post; The Guardian; New York Magazine