Shell games and loopholes.
There are two articles worth reading closely here.
The first is from The New Yorker, from June of this year, laying out in great detail exactly how nefarious a swindle was Trump University, based on sworn affidavits and the original complaint filed by New York’s attorney general.
The affidavit concludes, “Based upon my personal experience and employment, I believe that Trump University was a fraudulent scheme, and that it preyed upon the elderly and uneducated to separate them from their money.”
The second is from Forbes, from two days ago, pointing out that the $25 million settlement due to the victims of said swindle may be almost entirely tax-deductible.
Of course, the real cost to Mr. Trump is after tax, not before it. And most business settlements are fully tax deductible. The only part that arguably may not be here is the $1 million in penalties.
One may argue, as others repeatedly have, that even though it seems wrong on a fundamental level for somebody to be rewarded for committing such a clear case of malevolent fraud, this is simply Shrewd Donald making good use of the tax code to benefit himself and his enterprises and wouldn’t you do the same as well if you could?
If that’s the argument you’re making, however, then you are admitting that honesty and integrity were never factors in your decision this past election. And if some part of you believes that a Trump administration will fix any of the gears that are allowing him to escape his latest scheme with a fraction of the punishment he deserves, then I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.
Creative Control 