Trump allegedly received 'secret payments' for endorsing a company that reportedly lured people into investing in a marketing scheme
- President Donald Trump and his children are accused of "deliberately" scamming Americans by encouraging them to invest in a questionable multilevel-marketing company.
- The lawsuit also names Trump's children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, of luring vulnerable investors to buy into three businesses with "a pattern of racketeering activity."
- Trump was reportedly paid millions of dollars in secret, in exchange for promoting one of the companies named in the lawsuit.
- The complaint alleges the Trumps "were aware that the vast majority of consumers would lose whatever money they invested."
- Trump Organization officials questioned the timing of the lawsuit, which was filed days before the November 6 midterm election.
President Donald Trump and his children are accused of "deliberately" scamming Americans by encouraging them to invest in a multilevel marketing company, according to a complaint filed in federal court on Monday.
The complaint accuses Trump and his children, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric, of luring vulnerable investors to buy into three businesses with "a pattern of racketeering activity," according to The New York Times, which first reported on the lawsuit.
Trump was reportedly paid millions of dollars in exchange for promoting ACN, a telecommunications marketing company; Trump Network, another multilevel marketing company which sold vitamins and health promoting products; and Trump Institute, which allegedly gave "extravagantly priced multiday training seminars."
Some of the payments were made in secret, according to the lawsuit, which also alleges the Trumps "were aware that the vast majority of consumers would lose whatever money they invested."
Trump, who allegedly promoted ACN to investors without disclosing he was being paid, was heard in at least one ACN marketing video describing the company as being on the "cusp of technological advancements that will change the way we communicate."
"I'm here to tell you about a company that provides ... essential components for success," Trump said in the video.
"That's probably even better than real estate, I like real estate," Trump continued. "But I think this is probably better. It's certainly more advanced."
"You have a great opportunity before you with ACN. Without any of the risks most entrepreneurs have to take," Trump added. "Believe me. It's ultimately a dream come true."
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of four anonymous plaintiffs, who withheld their identities due to "serious and legitimate security concerns given the heated political environment," according to their attorneys.
The plaintiffs reportedly became investors in ACN after watching Trump's promotional videos, and were charged a $499 registration fee to sell products like videophones, The Times and CNBC reported on Monday.
ACN, like other multilevel marketing companies, allegedly advertised incentives for recruiting other investors or sales staff to join its program.
One plaintiff claimed to have joined ACN in 2014 after attending a recruitment meeting that included a video of Trump's endorsement. After spending thousands of dollars attending other meetings, she only earned $38 from the company, according to the lawsuit.
Trump Organization officials questioned the timing of the lawsuit, which comes days before the November 6 midterm election: "This is clearly just another effort by opponents of the President to use the court system to advance a political agenda," attorney Alan Garten said to The Times.
"Their motivations are as plain as day," Garten added.
A spokesman for the plaintiff's attorneys denied the allegation and said the lawsuit was filed "because it is ready now," according to CNBC.
"No matter when this was filed, the Trump Org would say it was politically motivated," the spokesman said.