Trump’s NASA Pick Was Once Sued for Passing Bad Checks — By Trump’s Own Casinos!

Posted on: April 25, 2025, 07:59h. 

Last updated on: April 25, 2025, 08:07h.

Corey Levitan Read More

Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Las Vegas Myths.

President Trump’s pick to lead the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the same guy sued by a reported four casinos for passing bad checks in the late aughts, according to court filings. And two of the properties who sued him were owned by Trump!

Jared Isaacman is a 42-year-old billionaire pilot and astronaut who founded the Shift4 Payments company as a teen and commanded the first civilian space crew to fly in a SpaceX capsule in 2021. His nomination to head the space agency is due to be voted on by the Senate Commerce Committee on April 30.

Gaming the Gaming Halls

Fifteen years ago, Isaacman was better known by US casinos as “defendant.” According to court filings obtained by USA Today, he was sued in 2009 by the Trump Taj Mahal casino for passing four bad checks totaling $1 million. The now defunct Atlantic City property later settled with him for $650,000.

Isaacman also faced a separate $1 million lawsuit for bouncing four checks at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut in 2010 — though that suit was resolved and withdrawn, according to USA Today. And, that same year, he was arrested by US Customs agents at the Canadian border on a felony fraud complaint filed by the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.

According to a questionnaire Isaacman filled out to apply for the NASA post, the Palms had accused him of writing another $2 million in bum checks due to a disagreement over a promised travel imbursement that he claimed the Palms refused to honor.

Isaacman said he resolved the matter and was released in less than 24 hours. He also said the charges were dropped and the court records sealed.

According to an unnamed source quoted by Reuters, Isaacman was also sued by Trump Plaza in 2008, though the details of that lawsuit were unretrievable by New Jersey court personnel, likely due to the age of the case and/or settlement confidentiality.

Isaacman Calls Casinos ‘Immature Hobby’

In a written questionnaire submitted after his April 9 nomination hearing, Isaacman was asked by Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell to explain his casino check-kiting spree.

“In my early 20s, I was fortunate to experience business success at a young age, and I spent time in casinos as an immature hobby,” Isaacman responded. “The legal matters referenced were, in fact, forms of negotiation and were all resolved promptly. The incident at the border, following my return from the Olympics, stemmed from a payment issue that had already been resolved, which is why I was detained for only a few hours.”

The White House has only issued the following statement, attributed to spokesperson Liz Huston: “Jared Isaacman is exceptionally qualified to advance President Trump’s bold agenda to restore American leadership in space science, technology and exploration. We look forward to the Senate’s swift confirmation of him.”