A report released this week shows Donald Trump’s connection to the mob during the period he owned an Atlantic City casino.
Yahoo News unveiled a story Monday with two sources stating that Trump was rather close to Robert LiButti, a reputed New Jersey mobster who worked for John Gotti.
This isn’t the first time Trump’s association with the mob has come up, just the latest and perhaps most direct.
For example, back in December, Trump was questioned about his association with a convicted Russian émigré, Felix Sater, who’s served prison time and was connected to the mafia.
Trump denied knowing Sater, and has already come out with a statement denying that he knew LiButti.
His statement on LiButti reads, “During the years I very successfully ran the casino business, I knew many high rollers. I assume Mr. LiButti was one of them, but I don’t recognize the name.”
Edith Creamer, LiButti’s daughter, in an interview with Yahoo News, said she doesn’t buy it, though.
“He’s a liar,” she said. “Of course he knew him. I flew in the [Trump] helicopter with [Trump’s then wife] Ivana and the kids. My dad flew it up and down [to Atlantic City]. My 35th birthday party was at the Plaza and Donald was there. After the party, we went on his boat, his big yacht. I like Trump, but it pisses me off that he denies knowing my father. That hurts me.”
Creamer’s account also is backed up in a book written by the former president of Trump Plaza casino, John R. O’Donnell. In 1991, O’Donnell released the book, “Trumped!: The Inside Story of the Real Donald Trump — His Cunning Rise and Spectacular Fall.” It talks about a meeting between Trump and LiButti aboard Trump’s private helicopter in the spring of 1988.
LiButti’s mob ties were uncovered in a secret recording between him and an executive with Trump’s Atlantic City executive.
In the tape, LiButti refers to mobster John Gotti as “my boss” and talks about meetings he had with Gotti, suggesting he bring him down to Trump’s Atlantic City casinos. This statement led to LiButti being barred from all New Jersey casinos due to the fact he was an “associate” of Gotti’s.
Later on, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission was also moving to fine Trump Plaza for its past attempts to appease LiButti by keeping blacks and women away from the craps tables he played on. The casino was eventually fined extensively due to these perceived violations.
This new revelation comes at a bad time for Trump, who continues to lead his rivals in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll but trails both Cruz and Rubio one-on-one.
Featured image by Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, available under a Creative Commons license.
