Is Schneiderman cozy with the Trumps?

AG illegally solicited donations in exchange for clearing up university suit, developer claims

From left: Eric Schneiderman, Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump
From left: Eric Schneiderman, Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is under investigation for allegedly soliciting illegal campaign contributions from the Trump family while insinuating that he would back down from his own consumer fraud investigation against Trump University.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics, a state ethics watchdog, has subpoenaed Ivanka and other Trump executives as part of its investigation, according to the New York Post. It is trying to determine whether Schneiderman hit the Trumps with a “barrage” of fundraising requests — including asking Ivanka and husband Jared Kushner to host a fundraising breakfast for him, while implying that he could make a state suit against Trump University go away.

Donald Trump filed a complaint in late 2013 charging Schneiderman with these indiscretions. “We think it’s great news that JCOPE has taken our complaint seriously and appears to be conducting an investigation into very serious allegations and breach of public trust that we raised more than a year ago,” said Trump Organization vice president George Sorial.

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Schneiderman did ultimately file suit against Trump University in Manhattan Supreme Court. While some of the charges have been dismissed, the suit is still pending.

The commission is also looking into Avi Schick, a lawyer who was representing the Trumps in response to the Trump University suit and also actively raising funds for Schneiderman. [NYP] — Tess Hofmann