Under state law, a liquor license may not be issued to "any person who has been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude.” Two weeks ago, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, with prosecutors alleging that payments made to cover up an alleged affair were sent specifically to impact the outcome of the 2016 election. The New Jersey Attorney General’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control is now “reviewing the impact of President Trump’s conviction on the above referenced licenses, and declines further comment at this time,” according to a statement emailed by a spokesperson to The Hill. A similar statement was provided to Fox News Digital. Trump currently owns three properties in New Jersey that could be subject to liquor license revocation, including Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck, Lamington Farm Club and Trump National Golf Club Pine Hill. Trump’s backers say the investigation is nothing more than a continuation of lawfare perpetrated against the former president. “Even the New Jersey Alcoholic Beverage Control handbook notes that in ‘some instances, it may be unclear whether a conviction involves an element of moral turpitude.’ Yet, Trump has a way to bringing clarity for his critics whenever they must chose between politics and principle,” argues attorney and legal scholar Jonathan Turley in an op-ed.New Jersey officials are reviewing liquor licenses at properties owned by former President Donald Trump after his recent conviction on 34 felony counts.
It is hard to see how falsifying business records constitutes an act “of moral turpitude.” Yet, it seems that any act by Trump is by definition base, vile, and depraved. Lawfare is like binge drinking: the excess is the very measure of its success. https://t.co/yVYprKgwK7 “For most of us, it is hard to see how falsifying business records would constitute ‘acts of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private and social duties which a man owes to his fellowmen, or to society in general.’ However, for Democrats, it seems that any act by Trump is by definition base, vile, and depraved,” Turley added. “The piling on of investigations and charges by Democratic officials has reinforced Trump’s long narrative of a weaponization of the legal system against him and his supporters,” he said. “In the end, the effort is hardly surprising. Lawfare is like binge drinking: the excess is the very measure of its success.”
— Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) June 11, 2024
