Trump golf courses' liquor licenses not renewed after conviction
The liquor licenses for two of former President Trump’s golf courses in New Jersey have not been renewed as state officials probe whether his conviction in his hush money case affects the holding of those licenses.
The New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control did not renew the liquor licenses of Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck and Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, a spokesperson for the New Jersey attorney general's office said in an email Friday.
The licenses expired Sunday, but the two golf clubs were issued interim permits to serve alcohol until a hearing is held on the matter. The hearing is scheduled for July 19, which the division noted is after Trump’s sentencing on July 11.
"The final judgment of conviction that raises the prospect of disqualifying Mr. Trump from an interest in a New Jersey liquor license due to the guilty verdict in New York will not be entered until after his sentencing,” the spokesperson said in the email.
The spokesperson noted that the burden of proof remains with the applicant to show that they meet the requirements for the license.
An initial review by the division found that Trump “maintains a direct beneficial interest in the three liquor licenses through the receipt of revenues and profits from them, as the sole beneficiary of the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust,” according to the office.
A spokesperson for the Trump Organization said in a statement to The Hill that a hearing for the renewal of its liquor licenses "is unwarranted and unjustified."
"As previously stated, President Trump is not the holder of any liquor license in New Jersey, and he is not an officer, director or operator of any entity that holds a liquor license in New Jersey. These liquor licenses support the livelihoods of many hundreds of hard working New Jersey residents, including bartenders, waiters and waitresses, they service thousands of members, and they contribute millions of dollars to the revenue streams of the State of New Jersey," the spokesperson said.
"They are also relied upon by people for special life events, including weddings, Christenings, and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, as well as charitable outings and events. We sincerely hope that this investigation is not political in nature, and given the foregoing, we feel confident that our licenses will remain unaffected," the spokesperson added.
The state attorney general’s office revealed last month that it was looking into whether the guilty verdict in the New York hush money case could impact Trump holding liquor licenses at three of his golf courses in the state. The Trump Organization pushed back on the investigation at the time, saying that Trump is not the holder of the liquor licenses.
“President Trump is not the holder of any liquor license in New Jersey, and he is not an officer or director of any entity that holds a liquor license in New Jersey — or anywhere in the United States for that matter,” a spokesperson for the Trump Organization said last month.
The division did renew the license for the Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia, which is located in Pine Hill, N.J.
The spokesperson for the state attorney general's office said that according to New Jersey law, no liquor license “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.”
A New York jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records last month in connection to a reimbursement made to Trump’s ex-fixer Michael Cohen for a payment made to an adult film star to keep quiet about an alleged affair with the former president. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and the affair.
— Updated at 4:04 p.m.