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Trump’s Bondi Donation a ‘Crass Political Payoff — Boston Globe

That donation was illegal, because nonprofits are barred by the IRS from giving money to political campaigns.

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“A private foundation can not operate for the benefits of its founders or board, or businesses they own or manage”, CREW’s release said.

You know, for the sake of “balance”.

It was hardly the first time the Republican presidential candidate has broken campaign limit laws. “I call them. They are there for me”.

Donald Trump gave Pam Bondi a $25,000 campaign donation as the Florida Republican Attorney General was deliberating on whether or not to bring a suit against the Manhattan billionaire for fraud at his Trump University.

But it wasn’t until this month that anyone knew the Donald J. Trump Foundation had actually been punished for breaking the law with that donation to Bondi. So it is a little jarring to see Trump and his campaign trying to spin away what looks like an obvious case of doing exactly what he has told the public he has done over and over again. NY accused the so-called university of bilking students who had signed up to learn the billionaire’s money-making secrets.

Donald Trump’s charitable foundation gave a whopping $100,000 to a conservative group pursuing legal action against the NY attorney general at the same time that office was conducting a fraud probe into Trump University, Yahoo News reported Friday. “That’s certainly something we think ought to be investigated”.

“Lock her up”, said the attorney general.

Donald Trump’s past political contributions came back to haunt him Tuesday, as it came to light that back in 2013 he illegally donated to Pam Bondi who was running for Florida Attorney General. “Bondi should have rejected the money, or returned it immediately, upon learning that Trump was seeking an action – or in this case an inaction -from her office”.

Schneiderman was the only attorney general to pursue allegations that Trump’s seminar program used misleading marketing materials to encourage students to sign up for costly real estate courses that were essentially worthless. “I have a lot of respect for her”.

Bondi, who has endorsed Trump in the 2016 presidential race, told NBC that she never received a recommendation to investigate Trump University.

“Worst of all, it appears the payment may have been meant to stave off an investigation into the sham Trump University that has ripped off unsuspecting students”.

A topsy-turvy state of affairs where lawlessness will be stopped by a man who is being sued for fraud. Many turned that down. “Because I’ll win that case in court”, Trump said Monday.

Conway later in the day told Bloomberg it was “ridiculous” to suggest Trump was involved in pay-to-play.

Trump and his surrogates have largely dismissed the scandal, arguing that corruption at the Clinton Foundation is the more pertinent story. “All political contributions are publicly reported and a matter of public record, as are all foundation expenditures”.

He brushed off suggestions this week that there was anything improper about a $25,000 contribution his foundation made to a political committee in Florida.

“I was a businessman”, Trump explained at a Republican debate in August 2015. I give to everybody. They are there for me.

BOOKBINDER: A news story comes out saying that the attorney general’s office is looking into this NY state lawsuit into Trump University and related entities.

“The contribution was legitimate, it was sent to the wrong group after a series of errors”. With the presidential debates beginning on September 26, we think Trump should be pressed for a clearer explanation of what he expected for his donations – and what his donors can expect from him.

Hillary Clinton may not do many press conferences, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t constantly in the headlines. “And I can’t imagine that Pam Bondi would ever make decisions on that basis”.

Trump has said he never talked with Bondi about Trump University.

Trump’s explanations of his donations are helpful context for understanding at least two curious payments to state attorneys-general.

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Meanwhile, Clinton also criticized Trump’s hardline immigration policies and called for the passage of a “sensible immigration reform bill”. And Trump says he still wants to reopen the school once the legal battles are resolved.

Trump says donation to AG not connected to university