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NJ Trump Golf liquor licenses not renewed after probe into post-conviction eligibility

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NJ Trump Golf liquor licenses not renewed after probe into post-conviction eligibility

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New Jersey officials have not renewed liquor licenses at two Trump Golf courses after after a probe into whether the former president‘s New York felony conviction disqualifies him from holding one.

The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General said Friday the licenses Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck and Trump National Golf Club – Bedminster expired Sunday; the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued interim permits to allow the facilities to continue serving alcohol until a hearing on the renewals, scheduled for later this month after Donald Trump’s criminal sentencing.

New Jersey state law says those convicted of a crime “involving moral turpitude” may not hold a liquor license. The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment Monday, but previously said the former president is not the license holder.

But the ABC’s review “indicates that (Trump) maintains a direct beneficial interest in the three liquor licenses through the receipt of revenues and profits from them, as the sole beneficiary of the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust,” a New Jersey AG’s office spokesperson said.

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What was Trump convicted of?

Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in a New York criminal court.

The jury found Trump authorized a plan to reimburse former lawyer Michael Cohen for $130,000 in hush money issued to porn star Stormy Daniels and spread the payments across 2017 disguised as legal expenses.

Cohen previously pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws for the payment to Daniels, which was issued ahead of the 2016 election to keep her quiet about a sexual encounter with Trump that allegedly happened a decade earlier.

Trump denies Daniels’ story and is expected to appeal the conviction. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11.

NJ liquor law requires ‘reputable character’ and bars ‘moral turpitude’

New Jersey liquor law states that “no license of any class shall be issued to any person under the age of 18 years or to any person who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.”

Other potentially applicable legal guidance comes from ABC Bulletins and case law.

“A person must have a reputable character and would be expected to operate the licensed business in a reputable manner. This discretionary concept acknowledges the issuing agency’s authority to consider prior disorderly persons offenses, (or) known organized crime history… when assessing whether to issue/renew a license application.” according to a bulletin previously shared by the AG spokesperson.

Before former President Trump was sworn into office in 2017, Trump filed an ownership change at the Trump National Golf Club – Bedminster, the Courier News and Home News Tribune, part of the USA TODAY Network, reported at the time.

The ownership change, including some complicated corporations and limited liability companies, reflected his broader strategy of moving most of his business interests under Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust and appointing his son, Donald Trump Jr., as the trustee.

A third Trump Golf course, Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia, was included in the initial probe into liquor license eligibility, but the New Jersey AG’s office said their license was renewed on June 3.

A final judgement on whether Trump’s criminal conviction disqualifies the businesses from holding liquor licenses will be issued after his sentencing, according to the New Jersey AG spokesperson. At the hearing scheduled for July 19, the burden of proof is on the applicants to show they remain qualified for the license.

Contributing: Nick Muscavage, Courier News and Home News Tribune

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