DK2 DONALD TRUMP'S 40 YEARS OF MOB TIES

Trump Transparency

As covered in depth in the MAFIA DON book, Mr. Trump is the least transparent president in the history of American politics. He has just shelled out twenty-five million dollars to ensure he stays that way. Despite his name emblazoned atop glitzy hotels and golf course gates, he hides so many things from us.

He refuses to release his tax returns, and lies about the rationale behind that refusal. At the same time he scoffs at potential conflicts of interest with respect to his businesses. It is only through releasing his tax returns that his assurances could be verified. He should reveal everyone with whom he does business, the extent of his debts, and exactly to whom he owes those debts. Releasing his tax returns is an obvious step and, moreover, according to every poll, is desired by over 75% of the American public (including a majority of those who voted for him.)

Mr. Trump will do anything and pay anything to avoid having to go on the record under oath to answer questions. After winning the election he paid off the disaffected Trump University students so that they would not get the opportunity to question him under oath during legal proceedings. How much? $25 million. During the election he many times vowed that he'd never settle with those students. Well, it's the transparency issue that was the most potentially damaging to him, and we now know the value he places on keeping a shady past hidden.

His mob ties are numerous. And potentially damaging to both Trump and the country. The Mafia Don book treats them in detail, but one thing to know is that Mr. Trump never stood up to the mob, even in cases when he easily could have. Every time he's asked about them he either denies them outright or develops a poor memory.

Attacking Hillary's health was cute when considering that Mr. Trump is the oldest President on record and has never released any of his own medical records. Not a single one.

Trump made Bill & Hillary Clinton's charitable foundation a key point of attack during the election, while hiding the activities of his own Trump Foundation. A quick comparison is in order: The Clinton Foundation employed hundreds of staff and raised over 2 billion dollars from US and foreign donors. Unlike most charities, the Clinton Foundation did not give many charitable grants. Instead, it used its money to directly carry out its own humanitarian programs. Initiatives such as supplying anti-malarial drugs, reducing childhood obesity, providing disaster relief, and providing discounted drugs to combat HIV and AIDS helped millions of people across the world every year. For over 15 years the Clinton Foundation has served as an example of humanitarianism and American good will across the world. When attacked by Trump (some say for political reasons), the Clintons fought back and insisted the good works of their foundation would NOT be discontinued. Compare that with the Trump Foundation, relatively small (average donations $500 thousand per year compared to the Clinton Foundation's $150 million per year), employs no personnel, and obtains most of its money from people who do business with Trump. The Trump Foundation has been fined for wrongfully making political contributions and other illegal transfers, and has recently been ordered to cease soliciting contributions in New York for failing to conply with reporting and audit regulations. It is currently under investigation by the NY District Attorney for possible fraud and other financial irregularities. When it came under criticism recently (some say for political reasons) Mr. Trump showed no interest in keeping it going. And that is the reason for mentioning it here. Instead of fighting to keep it open, his immediate impulse was to shut it down to prevent any further uncharitable disclosures about him.

Trump hides things that don't even need to be hidden. His father Fred was a member of the KKK. Fact. Documented in the Mafia Don book. But who cares? That was the father, not the son. Nevertheless Trump insists in trying to cover it up by denying it. So needless. And so sad.

Trump's Russian connections are now in the news. Several of them are introduced in the Mafia Don book. These were mafiosi with connections to the Russian mob. But there's far more to this, as can be seen from the one and only plank in the Republican Platform that the Trump team insisted be deleted: the one censoring Russia for its invasion of the Ukraine.

Such secrecies are expected from a criminal with lots to hide, but not from a President of the United States who must be at the top of his game. By systematically keeping so many secrets, he ties both hands and half his spirit behind his back. To understand this more see the section on Trump Ethics. Simple solution for President Trump: Let the light of day shine down upon these things. Really.

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