NEW YORK, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- An aide to Donald Trump accused the attorney general of New York of soliciting campaign contributions while investigating Trump's private school business.
The New York Post said Saturday that political operatives in Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office repeatedly hit up Trump for contributions during the two-year investigation into the business practices of the private business schools Trump operates.
Trump executive Michael Cohen told the Post his boss was fit to be tied by the $5 million civil suit being filed by Schneiderman's office over alleged unfair business practices. "Donald Trump is not the type of individual who will sit down and be extorted," he said.
Schneiderman's political team allegedly told the Trump camp the investigation into allegations Trump made inaccurate claims about the success rates of his schools was weak and would probably fade away. At the same time the probe was taking place, Schneiderman's operatives were approaching Trump, his family and associates for contributions, the Post said Saturday.
"Eric feels he can get political capital by taking on Mr. Trump to fight the perception that he is a weak and incompetent attorney general," Cohen said. "It's nothing more than a cheap publicity trick."
A source close to the case disagreed with Cohen's portrayal of the investigation and lawsuit, telling the Post that the case was not nearly as weak as Trump might like. "People will see that Mr. Trump has been taking consumers for a ride for several years and costing them thousands and thousands of dollars in the process," the source said.
