Tag

#housing-discrimination

4 incidents

Updated June 10, 1975 Civil Rights
Major Abuse of Power

1973 DOJ Housing Discrimination Settlement: Trump's First Civil Rights Case

Black applicants at Trump apartment buildings were systematically denied housing that was simultaneously offered to white applicants. A Black doorman described being instructed to discourage Black applicants; the government documented instances where the Trumps coded applications with a 'C' (for 'colored') to identify Black applicants for rejection. Trump hired Roy Cohn to fight the lawsuit, countersuing the government for $100 million. He settled without admitting guilt in 1975. Three years later, DOJ filed a second suit alleging violations of the settlement terms.

Sources
4
housing-discriminationracismpre-presidencyDOJ1973
Updated June 10, 1975 Civil Rights
Major Abuse of Power

Housing Discrimination: DOJ Lawsuit Against Trump Management Corporation for Racial Discrimination

The DOJ brought one of the largest housing discrimination lawsuits of 1973 against the Trumps, alleging their agents told Black rental applicants apartments were not available when they were available to white applicants, coded applications by race, and directed minority applicants to housing in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Trump denied the allegations vigorously and counterattacked the DOJ. The company settled in 1975 and allegedly violated the decree by 1978.

Sources
4
housing-discriminationracial-discriminationFair-Housing-Actpre-presidencyDOJ
Updated June 10, 1975 Civil Rights
Critical Rights and Rule-of-Law Concern

1973 DOJ Housing Discrimination: Trump and Father Sued for Refusing to Rent to Black Applicants

The DOJ suit was based on a year-long investigation by the Fair Housing Division, including undercover testers who posed as prospective renters. Black testers were told no apartments were available or were given discouraging treatment; white testers at the same buildings were shown units and given applications. Trump applications were alleged to contain a 'C' code — interpreted as standing for 'colored' — to flag non-white applicants. Trump hired Roy Cohn, who filed a $100 million countersuit against the DOJ (dismissed). The 1975 consent decree required anti-discriminatory practices but did not require Trump to admit wrongdoing. Three years later, the DOJ found Trump Management had violated the decree.

Sources
4
housing-discriminationDOJFair-Housing-Actpre-presidencycivil-rights
Updated June 10, 1975 Civil Rights
Major Abuse of Power

DOJ Housing Discrimination Suit: Trump Refused to Rent to Black Applicants

The DOJ complaint documented specific evidence including testers — white and Black individuals sent to inquire about the same apartments — where Black applicants were told there were no vacancies while white applicants were offered leases for the same units. An employee named Elyse Goldweber documented that a Trump employee had marked rental applications with the letter 'C' (for 'colored') to identify minority applicants. Trump's response was to hire Roy Cohn, file a $100 million countersuit against the DOJ (which was dismissed), and ultimately settle via consent decree in 1975. The consent decree required Trump Management to place ads in minority newspapers and to notify the Urban League of vacancies; Trump violated the decree within two years and a second agreement had to be negotiated.

Sources
3
housing-discriminationracismDOJpre-presidencycivil-rights