Author: K.J. McElrath is a former history and social studies teacher who has long maintained a keen interest in legal and social issues (From: www.ringoffireradio.com)
Most progressives and liberals have long suspected Donald Trump is a fraud. Thanks to an investigative reporter who has been dogging the Trumpster for over a quarter of a century, there is documentation of his numerous fraudulent acts and behaviors. In addition, there are a number of questions that the media should be asking that would doubtless prove that Donald Trump without a question is a total fraud.

David Cay Johnston is an author, lecturer, and investigative reporter who has been awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting who has presided over the board of the non-profit organization Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. His areas of expertise include tax law, accounting, economics, business and finance. He is also an outspoken Progressive whose thoughts and ideas echo those of Bernie Sanders. Since 1988, Johnston has been watching Trump closely. Recently, he came up with a list of questions that would reveal much about the GOP’s “Golden Boy” – assuming Trump would provide frank and forthcoming answers, as he claims to do.

For example, how many of our readers knew that Trump was successfully sued by the Attorney General of New York for running an “illegal educational institution”? Students at “Trump University” paid a whopping $35,000 for “Elite” mentorships – but never even saw their mentor. And here’s a juicy little fact that fans of The Godfather and The Sopranos should appreciate: the contracting firm that constructed Trump Tower was owned by a pair of gentlemen who went by the monikers of “Fat Tony” Salerno and “Big Paul” Castellano.

When it comes to charity, Trump doesn’t even donate to his own foundation. Instead, he donates other people’s money – specifically, those who do business with him.

Can you say, “kickbacks”?

It only gets better: Trump was found guilty in federal court of cheating immigrant workers hired to demolish a multi-story building. He paid them less than $5 per hour under the table. He didn’t even furnish them with hard hats. Oh, and all that talk from Trump about how he’s a “self-made billionaire”? It turns out that he had a bit of help from the taxpayers of New York. The mayor of NYC at the time, Abe Beame, happened to be good buddies with Donny-boy’s Daddy, Fred Trump. That little connection got Donald a tax abatement on a mid-town Manhattan property (right next door to Grand Central Station) in 1976. That was the old Commodore Hotel, which today is the Grand Hyatt New York. As of 2016, that little deal that his daddy made for him will have cost taxpayers $400 million.

So much for being a “self-made” billionaire.

Incidentally, Donald – how do you explain the fact that you paid zero income tax in 1978 and 1979, when you were busy remodeling that fancy Manhattan hotel? In fact, how do you explain not being able to pay your bills back in 1990, despite being a billionaire? And maybe you’d like to clarify to voters how you managed to run not one, but four companies into the ground? You want to run the country like you run business?

Heavens help us if that scenario ever came to pass.

At age 66, David Cay Johnston has not lost his edge when it comes to asking the hard questions. You can read all 21 of them, along with more details, right here. However, don’t expect the mainstream corporate media to be putting them to the Trumpster anytime soon.

Chances are, he’d just side-step them or refuse to answer anyway.

Watch Thom Hartmann address the issue of Trump and the mob

Article source: Ring of Fire Radio

Comments

melan's picture
melan 6 years 2 weeks ago

Donald Trump is making his mark on America: an increase in hate crimes, cabinet appointments that will ensure this white nationalist movement gets enshrined in new legislation,and personal behavior that breaks new boundaries in government ethics. I keep reading articles about things Donald Trump can't possibly do and yet is doing. Conducting his businesses and actually promoting them in full view during the transition; tweeting incessantly about his critics, including New York Times reporters; taking credit for a factory not moving to Mexico despite the blatant falsity of any role he he has played. And all these articles about Donald Trump's ethics (and as an ultius expert I've read a lot), white nationalist plans, mixing of business with the office of the presidency,and promises to roll back every single piece of legislation passed under President Obama--nobody ever mentions who will be able to stop him even if he is verging on the unlawful. The country has elected a demagogue, a strong man, a man who promises to be the president of all the people while surrounded himself with White supremacy ideologue. I'm not sure this is what many voters had in mind when they decided to vote for change at the expense of decency.

Old_Curmudgeon 7 years 29 weeks ago

My {ancient} generation’s Poli-sci’s theory-re-Parties includes how Party structures-n-processes can function toward keeping such a horrid person from being nominated. Virtually ALL aspects of this are currently absent from especially-the-Repugnantans.

Dr. Econ's picture
Dr. Econ 7 years 29 weeks ago

Is this posted by a Trump supporter?

What a load of garbage.

Usually people who come here are interested in fact, not rhetoric.

Please learn to write logically, instead of emotionally.

Jfson's picture
Jfson 7 years 29 weeks ago

Humpty Trumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Trumpy had a great fall

All the kings horses and all the kings men

Couldn't put Trumpy together again.

A map inscribed in a nursery rhyme.

mstaggerlee's picture
mstaggerlee 7 years 30 weeks ago

So how will the Donald react to this? My prediction:

"David Cay Johnston is a loser! Pulitzer Prize? Not that prestegious, y'know - I coulda had DOZENS of 'em if I wanted, but I don't. He's just not very smart, and he doesn't want America to be great again!"

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