Politics –
Florida Attorney General
Bribed By Trump?
Riddle me this: What does it take for a well-known political figure to get a state lawsuit against him to miraculously disappear? Well, if the political figure is Donald Trump and the state lawsuit is under the control of Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, the answer is $25,000.
Politics
Attorney General Bondi of Florida and a myriad of attorney’s general from a host of other states were all pursuing a joint lawsuit against Donald Trump for his now defunct Trump University. Multiple states pressed forward with their charges and succeeded in shutting down Trump U for good. However, Pam Bondi reversed her initial plans against Trump to the surprise of many, claiming lack of evidence. How is this possible?
C-A-S-H M-O-N-E-Y!
“One day, Bondi’s office told this newspaper it was reviewing complaints from Floridians who said they felt swindled by the Trump Institute affiliate of Trump University,” Scott Maxwell, a columnist for the Orlando Sentinel, which broke the original story of Trump’s donation, said on Tuesday. “Four days later, Trump’s foundation cut a $25,000 check to Bondi’s campaign committee. Then, after the check came in, her office decided not to take any action against Trump.”
Hmmm…
According to the Associated Press:
Florida’s attorney general personally solicited a political contribution from Donald Trump around the same time her office deliberated joining an investigation of alleged fraud at Trump University and its affiliates . . .
The money came from a Trump family foundation in apparent violation of rules surrounding political activities by charities. A political group backing Bondi’s re-election called And Justice for All, reported receiving the check Sept. 17, 2013—four days after Bondi’s office publicly announced she was considering joining a New York state probe of Trump University’s activities, according to a 2013 report in the Orlando Sentinel.
So, it appears that Donald Trump’s timely $25,000 cash “donation” to Bondi’s Florida AG re-election campaign was just the ticket to make any claims against him from the sunshine state simply go away. Oh, and it probably didn’t hurt that Trump held a fundraiser for Bondi at his 126-room Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach as well.
Can anyone spell C-O-N-F-L-I-C-T O-F I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T???
Not surprisingly, Trump and Bondi have each denied that his donation and fundraising efforts had anything to do with Bondi deciding not to pursue a case against Trump University (yeah, right). However, Trump was forced to pay a $2,500 penalty to the IRS, since donations to political campaigns from a family foundation are considered illegal.
Politics
New York AG Eric Schneiderman was just one of several state attorney’s to call Trump University “an unlicensed enterprise promising students that they would become wealthy by learning Trump’s real estate tips and strategies.”
“Trump University had neither a license nor a charter from New York State certifying it as an institution of higher education,” Schneiderman said. “In total, Trump University students were defrauded of $40 million, with about $5 million landing in Trump’s pocket. My office received complaints from many former students. One lost her life savings; another had to move out of her home after investing in Trump’s mentorship programs. Trump claims that enrollees have given his program a 98% approval rating, but we have statements showing that students were hounded into giving favorable reviews. Some 5,000 hardworking people from all over the country fell for Donald Trump’s sales pitch and ended up getting taken. They were victims of a high-pressure bait and switch.”
Does this sound like a lack of evidence??
Donald Trump’s rather obvious and cozy relationship with the Florida attorney general underscores a major but overlooked problem in American politics: the intertwining of campaign contributions and legal decisions.
However, “The Donald’s” take on using his personal wealth to influence personal and legal gain is best summed up by his own words from earlier this year:
“When I want something [from politicians] I get it. When I call, they kiss my ass. It’s true.”
.
I smell a rat!