Calls grow for probe into campaign donation Trump gave to Florida AG
msn.com
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Even as another Democratic state lawmaker called for an investigation of a campaign donation given by Donald Trump to Attorney General Pam Bondi, questions arose Wednesday about who would conduct such a probe.State Sen. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, wrote to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch asking the Department of Justice to look into the matter.
"There have been many questions surrounding claims of fraud at Trump University," Bullard stated. "There is even a greater concern of whether a quid pro quo exists within the office for favorable treatment in exchange for campaign assistance."
But no one, so far, is heeding calls for an investigation.
Bondi's fellow Republicans control the Legislature and are unlikely to set up an independent panel to look into the matter. Gov. Rick Scott has referred reporters' questions to the Trump campaign.
There are few other avenues to investigate Florida's top law enforcement official.
The Tampa Bay Times reported Wednesday that J. Whitfield Larrabee, a Boston lawyer, filed three complaints alleging the donation violated state ethics laws, state election laws and the Florida Bar's code of conduct for attorneys. They could trigger a probe by the Florida Commission on Ethics or the Florida Elections Commission. Those boards have little power to impose penalties beyond fines, however.
The Trump campaign has said that his charity, the Trump Foundation, made a clerical error in giving $25,000 to And Justice for All, a Bondi political committee, on Sept. 17, 2013. That admission came after the Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed an IRS complaint against the foundation, since political donations by charities are prohibited.
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