President-elect Donald Trump wants to delay the federal fraud trial he faces here Nov. 28 until after his inauguration in January, his attorney told a judge on Thursday, two days after Trump was elected president. When the judge asked why, Trump's attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, summed it up like this: "In view of Mr. Trump’s election as President of the United States, your honor."
Petrocelli said he would make a formal request to delay the trial by Monday. After court Thursday, Petrocelli told reporters Trump wanted to testify in person before his election as president.
"Now he’s going to have to take into account whether that’s the best use of his time, and he has to weigh his desire to be here against the needs of the country right now," Petrocelli said.
Curiel didn't say how he would rule but said he expects the case to last into mid-December if it starts as scheduled. An attorney for the plaintiffs, Jason Forge, told USA TODAY after the hearing that he didn't think the request for a delay got any traction with Curiel. "It’s hard to say a sitting president is less busy or more expendable than a president-elect," Forge said.
Among the dozens of lawsuits faced by Trump or his businesses, the most problematic could be the Trump University cases. Former students from across the country have sued in two class actions, accusing the school of charging them up to $35,000 and lying about the value of the lessons they would receive. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sued in 2013 and has since described Trump University as a “fraud” and a “scam.”
While the open cases are civil, some legal scholars raise the prospect that a court could ultimately find Trump University or even Trump personally liable for fraud. In the worst case, a finding that fraud took place — even by a civil court — could provide Congress with the grounds to consider impeachment proceedings.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ntil-after-inauguration/ar-AAk9Ntl?li=BBnb7Kz
Petrocelli said he would make a formal request to delay the trial by Monday. After court Thursday, Petrocelli told reporters Trump wanted to testify in person before his election as president.
"Now he’s going to have to take into account whether that’s the best use of his time, and he has to weigh his desire to be here against the needs of the country right now," Petrocelli said.
Curiel didn't say how he would rule but said he expects the case to last into mid-December if it starts as scheduled. An attorney for the plaintiffs, Jason Forge, told USA TODAY after the hearing that he didn't think the request for a delay got any traction with Curiel. "It’s hard to say a sitting president is less busy or more expendable than a president-elect," Forge said.
Among the dozens of lawsuits faced by Trump or his businesses, the most problematic could be the Trump University cases. Former students from across the country have sued in two class actions, accusing the school of charging them up to $35,000 and lying about the value of the lessons they would receive. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sued in 2013 and has since described Trump University as a “fraud” and a “scam.”
While the open cases are civil, some legal scholars raise the prospect that a court could ultimately find Trump University or even Trump personally liable for fraud. In the worst case, a finding that fraud took place — even by a civil court — could provide Congress with the grounds to consider impeachment proceedings.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ntil-after-inauguration/ar-AAk9Ntl?li=BBnb7Kz
