David A. Fahrenthold reports for the Washington Post
Oct. 24, 2019, at 3:09 p.m. EDT
The state of New Jersey is seeking to revoke the liquor license for one of President Trump’s golf clubs — a rare and potentially damaging punishment, triggered by a 2015 case in which state officials said the Trump club overserved alcohol to a man who then caused a fatal wreck.
That proposed punishment was laid out in an Oct. 21 letter to the Trump golf course in Colts Neck, N.J. The Washington Post obtained the letter through a public records request.
The office of New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, which sent the letter, declined to comment about the letter. Grewal was appointed in 2018 by Gov. Phil Murphy (D).
The letter gives few details about the alleged misconduct by Trump’s course. The man who the club is accused of overserving — Andrew G. Halder — caused a wreck that killed his own father and last year pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide.
Trump’s company was given 30 days to challenge the planned revocation. If the state’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control does decide to revoke the license, Trump can challenge that decision in court or try to get it reinstated in two years.
The Trump Organization did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
If the club’s liquor license is revoked, that would be a blow for the Colts Neck course, near the Jersey Shore. The club could lose significant revenue from the two restaurants and a bar it operates for members, and find it hard to attract banquets or golf tournaments from outsiders.
But for Trump, the potential damage is greater than that.
Under New Jersey law, anyone who has one liquor license revoked must also give up all their other liquor licenses for two years. Trump has two other New Jersey golf clubs, including one in Bedminster that he uses as a summer White House.
Related news stories:
N.J. seeks to revoke liquor license at Trump’s golf club (Star-Ledger)
Trump Golf Club Could Lose Liquor License (Associated Press)
