US President-Elect Donald Trump To Pay Off $25m Trump University Lawsuit Fraud In Same Week As Presidential Inauguration

On Tuesday, US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel had ruled that US President Elect Donald Trump has to reimburse former Trump University students about $25 million for fraud -- effectively breaking Trump's vow not to settle existing fraud claims. The former students said they were defrauded by the university's name and promises. The amount is only half of the student's expenditures for Trump University's real-estate seminars -- an amount Judge Curiel deems "fair."

According to MSNBC, US President Elect Donald Trump will -- on January 18, 2017 -- pay $25 million to all alleged victims of fraud by his educational institution attempt Trump University particularly the real-estate seminar program. MSNBC Contributor Steve Benen said the President.Elect is the "first American in history to headline a presidential inauguration and pay off the victims of an allegedly fraudulent scam in the same week."

Benen said Trump University was Trump being a "controversial celebrity" who was "eager to capitalize on his notoriety" by way of "[making] ridiculous and unrealistic claims" to his programs that had many students trust him and later regretted it.

According to Russia Today -- citing Donald Trump and Trump University statements -- the defending party will not admit to any wrongdoing. The statement said that "President Trump is pleased to have this case behind him" to allow him to focus on his presidency and "every important issue facing this country." His attorney Daniel Petrocelli said that Trump was "willing to sacrifice his personal interests" to "move forward."

The "Trump Entrepreneur Initiative" or as it is better known as Trump University is a privately-held and unaccredited educational institution -- meaning educational credits it endorses accredited educational institutions will not honor. Incorporated in 2004 by Donald Trump, Michael Sexton and Phil Spitalny as a limited liability company, the university focused on real-estate investing and ranged from $1,495 three-day seminars to $35,000 "Gold Elite" programs. Reports of former students said Trump University pressured students to provide favorable reviews before they received graduation certificates.