Federal judge offers mixed ruling in case against Trump’s DC hotel

Although former President Donald Trump is no longer in office, it seems clear that plenty of critics on the left are still concerned about his influence within American politics.

According to reports this week, prosecutors are moving forward with a case involving Trump’s hotels following a recent decision by a federal judge that dismissed a portion of the argument against the former president.

Judge issues mixed ruling

The underlying case accuses the ex-president of hosting events at his own properties during his administration and charging inflated prices.

At its heart is the claim that Trump sought to profit from hosting inaugural events at the Trump International Hotel in D.C.

Superior Court Judge Jose M. Lopez found that District Attorney General Karl Racine did not present evidence that the 2017 inaugural committee “wasted” funds by renting out the Trump property.

Nevertheless, the judge indicated that the case can proceed with its effort to prove that the Trump family influenced the inaugural committee for private gain.

Racine claimed that Ivanka Trump was involved in the arrangements and had been warned that they could create a negative impression. Lopez found, however, that more information would be needed to demonstrate “bad faith” on the part of the former president’s daughter.

“False, intentionally misleading”

“It is not sufficient for a plaintiff to demonstrate that the defendant made a bad call or even that they were negligent,” the judge wrote.

The district attorney filed the case in January 2020 and cited the latest ruling as a “big deal” in his pursuit.

“We cannot allow those in power to get away with using money to illegally enrich themselves and their families,” he stated.

Of course, the Trump Organization is denouncing the “false, intentionally misleading” case against the ex-president. Trump opened the hotel near the White House in 2016 and his company maintains that his team did not charge more than a fair rate for the events hosted therein.

The court ruling comes as a Democratic-led committee on Capitol Hill continues to probe Trump and his inner circle over their actions prior to a riot in D.C. on Jan. 6. Nevertheless, some recent polls show that the former president is now more popular than his successor, President Joe Biden.

The post Federal judge offers mixed ruling in case against Trump’s DC hotel first appeared on Conservative Institute.