The New Jersey Attorney General seeks to revoke the liquor license of all three Trump National Golf Clubs in the State after a fatal DUI crash in 2015.
The incident Attorney General Gurbir Grewal refers to happened on Aug. 30. In this incident, customer Andrew Halder was continually offered alcoholic drinks during his round of golf on the course while he was clearly intoxicated. Grewal detailed the facts in his letter of Monday, Oct. 21, which was obtained by The Washington Post.
The drinks were allegedly hard liquor drinks served from a mobile cart, which would be a violation of the license’s terms. The license agreement only allows for low alcoholic beverages to be sold from the carts, according to The Washington Post.
On Aug. 30, at about 3 p.m., after finishing his round of golf and having imbibed several rounds of drinks, Halder left the Colts Neck Golf Club together with his father, Gary Halder. He crashed his car shortly after some four miles away from the golf club.
The car flipped over, catapulting his father out of the vehicle. His father later died in the hospital. In 2018, Andrew Halder, whose alcohol level exceeded the limit of 0.8 at the time of the crash, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide. He was sentenced to three years’ probation.
Usually, a violation of such a kind by a golf club would lead to a 25-day suspension of their liquor license. However, a letter from Deputy Attorney General Andrew R. Sapolnick stated, “due to the aggregating circumstances, in this case, the [state] will seek revocation of the license based upon the total circumstances.”
The penalty would apply to all three of Trump’s National Golf Clubs in the state, including one in Bedminster where he often receives high-profile guests.
Jay Karen, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association, spoke about the viability of a golf club that’s restricted by the revocation of its license to sell liquor:
“Could it be done? Sure. In theory, yes. But it would be really, really hard,” Karen said. “I think the word would get out, and people would look elsewhere to play.” The Washington Post reported.
Grewal is in charge of the state Department of Law and Public Safety Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Neither he nor Sapolnick, elaborated on the aggravated circumstances mentioned in the letter.
The Trump Organization has 30 days to challenge the revocation. If not, it may seek to have it reinstated in two years.
