Florida AG Pam Bondi Personally Asked Trump for Donation Before Dropping Trump Univ. Fraud Case

$25,000 Check Received Four Days After Bondi Announced She Was Considering Lawsuit

In 2013 Florida Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi personally asked Donald Trump for a contribution to her re-election campaign. A few weeks later, according to the Associated Press, Bondi publicly announced she was considering joining a New York State lawsuit against Trump University, charging the Trump enterprise with fraud. On September 13, 2013, four days after her announcement, Bondi received a check for $25,000 from the Donald J. Trump foundation. 

The AP reports that donation was “in apparent violation of rules surrounding political activities by charities,” and that after the check was received, “Bondi’s office nixed suing Trump, citing insufficient grounds to proceed.”

A spokesperson for the Florida attorney general “said that Bondi was unaware of dozens of consumer complaints received by her office about Trump’s real-estate seminars at the time she requested the donation.”

That $25,000 check was far from the only cash the Trump family flooded into Florida Republican Party politics.  

“In addition to the money given by his foundation, Trump himself has donated $253,500 since in Florida since 1999, most of it going to Republican candidates, the state party or political committees affiliated with GOP officials,” the AP reports. “His daughter, Ivanka Trump, also gave a $500 check to Bondi a week before her father’s money came in, as well as another $25,000 to the Republican Party of Florida the following year.”

The AP also points to Trump’s comments explaining why he donates to politicians and political candidates.

“The timing of the donation by Trump is notable because the now presumptive Republican presidential nominee has said he expects and receives favors from politicians to whom he gives money,” the AP states.

“When I want something I get it,” Trump said in January. “When I call, they kiss my ass. It’s true.”

Bondi subsequently endorsed Trump for president, in March of this year. 

“Donald and I have been friends for many years,” Bondi said when making her endorsement, “and I can tell you some things about Donald that I have seen first-hand,” the Miami Herald reported, noting her remarks were “alluding to how nicely he treats his family.”