Several of the 3,500 lawsuits presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump has been involved in over the years involved him shortchanging workers on thousands of dollars, according to an extensive analysis by USA Today published Thursday.
There were 60 lawsuits, USA Today found, where workers alleged Trump and his companies shortchanged them. Those included lawsuits from a dishwasher, a plumber, a painter and various other workers who were once employed by his businesses.
At least one business, the Edward J. Friel Co., declared bankruptcy and chalked up at least some of its downward spiral to the $83,600 Trump owed it for building slot machine bases and doing other carpentry work at Harrah’s at Trump Plaza in 1984.
The report also noted that since 2005, Trump’s companies have been cited for at least 24 violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act due to unpaid wages.
But the unflappable Trump brushed off any claims of shortchanging workers.
“Let’s say that they do a job that’s not good, or a job that they didn’t finish, or a job that was way late. I’ll deduct from their contract, absolutely,” Trump told the newspaper. “That’s what the country should be doing.”
Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, echoed her father’s sentiments and said they have employed many sound contractors.
“But it would be irresponsible if my father paid contractors who did lousy work. And he doesn’t do that,” she told USA Today.
Read the full report here.
