Shaken and stirred: Trump’s golf course liquor licenses at risk after conviction – The Guardian US
New Jersey attorney general looks into whether Trump is ineligible to hold licenses at three of his golf courses in state
The ripple effects of Donald Trump’s felony conviction widened on Monday to encompass some of his most famous business assets: his golf courses.
The New Jersey’s attorney general’s office is looking into whether the former president’s recent convictions make him ineligible to hold liquor licenses at his three New Jersey golf courses, according to a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office.
State law prohibits anyone from holding a liquor licenses who has been convicted of a crime “involving moral turpitude”.
Trump was convicted in New York on 34 felony counts involving payment of hush money to an adult film actor and subsequently falsifying business records in an attempt to hide it.
The move follows news of the expected suspension of Trump’s license to carry a gun by the New York police department, also as the result of his conviction.
The Associated Press reported on Monday that the New Jersey division of alcoholic beverage control, which is part of the attorney general’s office, is now investigating if the guilty conviction should affect Trump’s continued ability to hold liquor licenses.
“[The office] is reviewing the impact of President Trump’s conviction on the above referenced licenses, and declines further comment at this time,” a spokesperson for the office said in an email to the AP on Monday.
Part of what goes into that calculation is a requirement that “a person must have a reputable character and would be expected to operate the licensed business in a reputable manner”, according to the division.
Its handbook goes into further detail, saying: “The term ‘moral turpitude’ denotes a serious crime from the viewpoint of society in general and usually contains elements of dishonesty, fraud or depravity.”
Trump owns golf courses in Bedminster, Colts Neck and Pine Hill in New Jersey, each of which has an active liquor license.
He no longer owns any casinos in Atlantic City, where his former company, Trump Entertainment Resorts, once operated three.
Attempts by the AP to contact Trump’s presidential campaign, as well as the Trump Organization, Trump’s company, were not immediately returned.
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, is scheduled to be sentenced in the New York case on 11 July.