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New Jersey reviewing Trump golf course liquor licenses after hush money conviction

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New Jersey reviewing Trump golf course liquor licenses after hush money conviction

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The New Jersey Attorney General’s office is reviewing the impact of former president Donald Trump‘s criminal conviction on liquor licenses at three Trump Golf locations in the state, a spokesperson confirmed with USA TODAY Wednesday.

Three golf courses in New Jersey with active liquor licenses are subject to the probe, including the Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck, Trump National Golf Club – Bedminster and the Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia, located in Pine Hill New Jersey.

State law says those convicted of a crime “involving moral turpitude,” may not hold a liquor license.

In May, Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up hush money reimbursements to his lawyer.

The Trump Organization did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment, but told The Hill Trump himself is not the holder of the licenses.

“These are some of the most iconic properties in the world, and reports like this do nothing but harm the thousands of hard-working Americans who derive their livelihoods from these spectacular assets,” a Trump Organization spokesperson told The Hill.

Fact check: With sentencing in July, Trump could not have skipped post-sentencing report

What was Trump convicted of?

Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

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

Former Trump lawyer Michael 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.

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 the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or 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 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.

Contributing: Nick Muscavage, Courier News and Home News Tribune

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