New Jersey Revokes Trump’s Golf Club Liquor LicensesNew Jersey Revokes Trump’s Golf Club Liquor Licenses New Jersey’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) has revoked the liquor licenses of two golf clubs linked to former President Donald Trump. The decision follows Trump’s felony conviction in May for falsifying business records. ABC has set a hearing for July 19 to determine if the clubs qualify to retain their licenses. The clubs must prove by “a preponderance of evidence” that they meet the criteria. The ABC’s actions are based on a state law that prohibits anyone convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude from holding a liquor license. In May, Trump became the first former president to be convicted of such charges. The attorney general’s office previously warned it was reviewing the impact of Trump’s conviction on the liquor licenses of three of his New Jersey golf courses. Two of those courses, Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck and Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, had licenses that expired on June 30. ABC has granted temporary licenses to allow the facilities to serve liquor until the hearing. The third course, Trump National Golf Club in Pine Hill, has renewed its liquor license. According to the attorney general’s office, Trump retains an economic interest in the three liquor licenses through a trust. The Trump Organization has not responded to requests for comment.
New Jersey’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control “failed to renew two Golf Club Facility licenses linked to former President Donald J. Trump,” the Sun has learned, following his felony conviction in May, and set a hearing in July to make a final decision. .
The two clubs have the burden of proving “by a preponderance of evidence” that they are qualified to retain the liquor licenses, New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control interim director Kirstin Krueger wrote in letters to the clubs .
“(ABC) has a duty to maintain integrity in the state’s alcoholic beverage industry,” a representative from the New Jersey Attorney General’s office said in a statement to the Sun.
State law states that “no license of any kind shall be issued to persons under the age of 18 or to persons convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.”
Trump in May became the first former president to be convicted of felony charges after a jury found him guilty of falsifying business records to conceal payments to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump has maintained his innocence and said he will appeal the case.
The attorney general’s office had warned earlier in June that it was reviewing “the impact of President Trump’s conviction” on liquor licenses at three of its New Jersey golf courses, Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck, Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster and Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. National Golf Club in Pine Hill, the Sun reported.
Two of those courses, Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck and Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, have licenses that expire on June 30, the representative added. ABC has granted temporary licenses to allow the two facilities to serve liquor until an ABC hearing “scheduled for July 19, following Mr. Trump’s sentencing on July 11, where they will be required to prove their licenses are up for renewal.”
“At such a hearing, the applicant bears the burden of proof to demonstrate by a preponderance of the evidence that he/she continues to be qualified to hold the license, which includes a review of all beneficiaries of the licenses,” the representative said.
The representative notes that the third course, Trump National Golf Club in Pine Hill, has renewed its liquor license.
“A final sentencing judgment raising the possibility that Mr. Trump may be disqualified from having an interest in a New Jersey liquor license due to the guilty verdict in New York will not be issued until after his sentencing, which is currently scheduled for July 11,” notes the representative of the Attorney General’s office.
After the initial investigation into his liquor licenses earlier this month, the Trump Organization said Trump was not the holder of New Jersey golf club liquor licenses, the Associated Press reported.
Still, the attorney general’s office says that “an ABC investigation shows that Mr. Trump retains a direct economic interest in the three liquor licenses through the receipt of income and profits from them as the sole beneficiary of the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust . ”
The Sun has contacted the Trump Organization for comment.
