Trump and His Business World Are No Strangers To Fraud.

Recently when Donald Trump's business was found guilty of committing fraud against the City and State of New York, it was not the only fraud action brought against a Trump business.  In this New York case, Trump and his two sons were fined a total of almost half billion dollars, with Donald Trump being responsible with the majority of the fine imposed.  

In February 2018, Trump settled out of court a fraud law suit against Trump University brought forward by New York's Attorney General and several Trump University students before it was set to go to trial.  Trump settled the suit for $25 million, the Judge approved the settlement and Trump paid the fine while he was President.  New York's Attorney General who handled the case released a public statement after the settlement was approved and said.

New York's Attorney General Eric Schneiderman:  For years President Trump refused to compensate the victims of his sham university.  His reversal and the large scale settlement that resulted opened the door for student victims to finally obtain the restitution they deserve.  My office will continue to hold those who commit fraud accountable, no matter how rich or powerful they may be.  

In another investigation by New York's Attorney General against Trump's Charitable Foundation, the Court ordered Trump to pay more than $2 million in damage to eight different charities for illegality misusing charitable funds at the Trump Foundation for political purposes.  Not only has the Trump Foundation shut down for its misconduct but the president has been forced to pay $2 million for misusing charitable funds for his own political gain writes Attorney General Letitia James in a released dated December 10, 2019.  James also writes, additionally, as part of the settlement Trump was required to agree to 19 admissions, acknowledging his personal misuse of funds of the Trump foundation.  

And now, Trump is  scheduled to go on trial again in New York on April 15 concerning the matter of Stormy Daniels. Trump also faces two other federal trials and another state trial  in Georgia after numerous indictments.  Those trial dates have not been set yet.  It is almost impossible to  believe that in America, a political party would gladly nominate such a person who is so unfit for the Presidency or any other political office.  But here we are.  American democracy deserves better.

This commentary written by Joe Lorio 

 

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry Calls His Legislative Agenda "Pro Business."

 But the real answers are years away and won't be answered until he leaves office.  For the GOP, "Pro Business" usually indicates the business community will do well but not so the average person and they have a record to prove it.  Fiscally, the GOP has not been the party of fiscal stability, just ask the former administrations of Mike Foster and Bobby Jindal.  And they have never been the party of real job creation.  

The unemployment rate in January of 2016 when John B. Edwards took office was 6.0% and when he left office in January of 2024 it was 4.1%, a reduction of 1.9% in his 8 years in office.  It was 4.1% when Jindal took office and 6.0% when he left office, an increase in unemployment of 1.9% during his 8 years in office.  It was 5.8% when Kathleen Blanco took office and 4.1% when she left office, a reduction of 1.7% in the unemployment rate in her 4 years in office.  It was 6.7% when Mike Foster took office and 5.8% when he left office a reduction of 0.9% in the unemployment rate in his 8 years in office.  

The past 28 year record suggest that when Landry leaves office, the unemployment rate will not be as healthy as when Blanco and Edwards left office.  And this writer is of the opinion that fiscally, the Landry administration will be like the Jindal administration.  The reason being is that the GOP govern by ideology and not by policy or plans which is necessary to address the real issues. 

This commentary written by  Joe Lorio