Trump Accuses NY Attorney General of Ethics Breach
Monday, 23 Dec 2013 01:10 PM
Celebrity developer Donald Trump
has filed two ethics complaints against state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, accusing him of
misconduct.
Trump says the Democratic attorney
general solicited campaign donations from Trump's daughter even as
Schneiderman's office was investigating the real estate mogul's "Trump University,"
according to the complaints.
Schneiderman hasn't solicited Trump
for a campaign contribution since he took office in January 2011, according to
a spokesman. And while Schneiderman says he met socially with Ivanka Trump and
her husband, neither is an official of Trump University,
and anyone who contributes must certify he or she has no matters under
investigation by the attorney general's office, the spokesman said.
In August, Schneiderman sued Trump
and his business school for $40 million. Schneiderman said the school engaged
in persistent fraud and illegal and deceptive conduct and violated federal
consumer protection law. In a conflict that was nasty from the start,
Schneiderman said then that, "No one, no matter how rich or famous they
are, has a right to scam hard-working New Yorkers."
Trump, who is considering a run
for governor as a Republican, filed complaints this month with two state ethics
panels, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics and the state Moreland Commission
to Investigate Public Corruption. Schneiderman has appointees and staff working
for the Moreland Commission and deputized many of its commissioners. The
commission is charged with uncovering "pay-to-play" corruption
involving campaign contributions and official state action throughout state
government.
"We consider and review all
communications that are submitted to the commission," Moreland spokeswoman
Michelle Duffy said. "However, we do not discuss potential or ongoing
investigations."
Neither she nor John Milgrim of
the Joint Commission on Public Ethics, New
York's ethics and lobbying board, would comment on
any action their panel is taking as a result of the complaints.
Trump's attorney in the ethics
case, former state lobbying regulator David Grandeau, said Schneiderman tried
to use his leverage while running an investigation to wring out more campaign
contributions from Trump's daughter, Ivanka.
"It's pay-or-pray fundraising
tactics," Grandeau said.
"Donald Trump and his
associates will say and do anything to avoid talking about the facts in this
case," Schneiderman spokesman Matt Mittenthal said. "His wild
accusations, outlandish conspiracy theories and outright distortions will not distract
Attorney General Schneiderman from pursuing justice for the students victimized
by Mr. Trump and his scam university."
Eric Schneiderman
Eric T.
Schneiderman is the attorney general for the New York state government, and was married to Jennifer Cunningham.
Note: Jennifer
Cunningham was married to Eric T.
Schneiderman, and is a director at the Drum
Major Institute for Public Policy (think tank).
Foundation
to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy (think tank).
George
Soros is the chairman for the Foundation
to Promote Open Society, and the founder & chairman for the Open Society Foundations.
Open
Society Foundations was a funder for the American Constitution Society.
Mario
M. Cuomo is a board of adviser’s member for the American Constitution Society, Andrew
M. Cuomo’s father, and was the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of
state for the New York state government.
Andrew
M. Cuomo is Mario M. Cuomo’s
son, and the governor for the New York state government.
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