Donald Trump Will Pay Up to $1 Million for Violating Law in $25 Million Trump University Settlement

Trump Will Not Be Forced to Admit to Any Wrongdoing

Donald Trump has agreed to settle three lawsuits from New York and California that accuse the Manhattan billionaire’s for-profit Trump University of fraud. New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced the $25 million settlement Friday afternoon, noting the President-elect will pay “up to $1 million in penalties to the State of New York for violating state education laws.” Trump will not be forced to admit to any wrongdoing.

“In 2013, my office sued Donald Trump for swindling thousands of innocent Americans out of ​millions of dollars through a scheme known at Trump University,” Schneiderman’s statement reads. “Donald Trump fought us every step of the way, filing baseless charges and fruitless appeal​s​ and refusing to settle for even modest amounts of compensation for the victims of his phony university. Today, that all changes.”

Schneiderman is one of the few attorneys general who took on Trump. Notably, Florida state attorney general Pam Bondi and Texas attorney general, now governor Greg Abbott, both declined to prosecute. There are now allegations their campaigns benefitted financially from the decisions.

“I am pleased that under the terms of this settlement, every victim will receive restitution and that Donald Trump will pay up to $1 million in penalties to the State of New York for violating state education laws,” Schneiderman’s statement continues. “The victims of Trump University have waited years for today’s result and I am pleased that their patience–and persistence–will be rewarded by this $25 million settlement.”

The New York attorney general has said Trump University was a fraud from start to finish.

“We have laws against running an illegal, unlicensed university. This never was a university. The fraud started with the name of the organization,” Schneiderman said in June.

Also in June Trump continued his attacks on the judge in the case, U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel, saying, “we’re building a wall. He’s a Mexican. We’re building a wall between here and Mexico.” He added, “he is giving us very unfair rulings, rulings that people can’t even believe. This case should have ended years ago.”