It may have happened over 50 years ago, but one of President Trump's alleged scams may be about to catch up to him.
A professor at Trump's Ivy League alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania, has called for the re-opening of an investigation into Trump's admission to the school in 1966 after recordings recently surfaced in which his sister says he paid a friend to take his SATs for him.
In June, Professor Eric Orts and six other professors at the school had appealed to the school's provost, Wendell E. Pritchett, to open up an investigation into Trump's admittance following the release of his niece Mary Trump's book Too Much and Never Enough, which contained the allegations of Trump having cheated his way into the extremely selective university.
While Pritchett specified that he shared Orts et. al.'s concerns, Trump's admission was "too far in the past to make a useful or probative factual inquiry possible"—unless, that is, "new evidence" were to come to the fore.
Orts is now relaunching his calls for an inquiry on the basis of "new evidence" having been uncovered following an explosive piece in The Washington Post last weekend. The piece features secret recordings of the President's sister, retired federal judge Maryanne Trump Barry, confirming that Trump cheated on his SATs.
In the recordings, Trump Barry tells Mary Trump:
"[Donald Trump] went to Fordham for one year and then he got into University of Pennsylvania because he had somebody take the exams."
The recordings were taken in 2018 and 2019 by Mary Trump during her research for Too Much and Never Enough.
Orts and his colleagues explained their reasoning for calling for an investigating Trump's history at the University of Pennsylvania in their first appeal to the provost in June:
"Failing to investigate an allegation of fraud at such a level [as Trump's] broadcasts to prospective students and the world at large that the playing field is not equal, that our degrees can be bought, and that subsequent fame, wealth, and political status will excuse past misconduct."
On Twitter, many people were loving the drama of this attempt to give the President his comeuppance.
I'll take "Extraordinary Pettiness" for $500 please, Alex.
— Steven Walter Thomas (@thethomasbrand) August 28, 2020
Looks like Thanksgiving dinner at Mar-a-Lago will be as awkward as it is in every other household across America. https://t.co/UdAji5iPrr
— ian bremmer (@ianbremmer) August 28, 2020
That would be rich. They take away his B.A. and he would be the only modern president who only finished High School.
— Alfonso Rodriguez (@BraveNewWorld57) August 31, 2020
And virtually no one was surprised by the allegations.
Has he legitimately earned anything in his entire life?
— Cam Kay and one million others (@canmore2018) August 28, 2020
Trump has been cheating his entire life. Now he is cheating America.
— Victoria Brownworth #GetYourBallotNow (@VABVOX) August 29, 2020
Wouldn't be surprised. He is so focused on mail in ballots and cheating. Generally people don't focus on something unless they have personal knowledge of their own ability to do so.
— K87 (@wickmanpka) August 28, 2020
In truth, its highly unlikely he actually earned it. Once a cheater, always a cheater. https://t.co/dLCqGABXYv
— JoeTrudeau (@IAmJoeTrudeau) August 28, 2020
But many found this a needless distraction that was unlikely to accomplish anything.
I think we should focus on his potential re-admission to the WH, cause he's also lying and cheating his way into a 2nd term
— vitaldust (@RuivivarA) August 28, 2020
Like it matters after 50 years. If they pull his degree, will he not be able to find a job?
— ProudGayVet 🏳️🌈 ⚓#BidenHarris2020 (@ProudGayVet) August 28, 2020
You think it will matter if they find indisputable proof of a bribe or any other underhanded tactic (cheating, etc)?
Nothing matters to his followers.
— Jon J. (@JonathonJ1997) August 28, 2020
Professor Orts told The Washington Post that he has not yet heard back from the provost in response to his renewed request for the investigation.
