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AntiFascist

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66. Trump probably learned the value of kompromat from his mentor Roy Cohn...

Thu Jul 17, 2025, 06:17 PM

Jul 17

Trump’s greatest early victory in real estate was the construction of Manhattan’s Grand Hyatt Hotel in 1978. He was able to complete the deal thanks to a substantial loan from his father, and an enormous $400 million tax abatement from New York City, which happened to be bankrupt at the time. In the film, Trump is only able to secure the tax break after Cohn (played by Jeremy Strong) blackmails a city official with a compromising phone call, which he had illegally recorded.

“Roy's use of blackmail, and especially tape recording phone calls, is well documented,” Sherman explains. “Roy had a woman in his basement who actually ran a switchboard, and she would tape and listen to all the conversations. I found it so powerful that Roy would basically tape-record his own clients for blackmail and for leverage. I thought that was a way to illustrate to Trump his philosophy for winning, and how you have to be willing to almost betray your own people to win."

Whether Cohn actually utilized blackmail tapes to help Trump secure a tax abatement for the Grand Hyatt is unknown, but it does seem that the lawyer’s dirty tricks were at play in the arrangement. “Stanley Friedman, the deputy mayor at the time, signed off on the deal at the last second, shortly before he left office, and then went to work for Roy Cohn at his law firm a week later. So basically, Roy gave a job to the city official who got the deal for Donald.”

https://ew.com/the-apprentice-screenwriter-true-stories-behind-biopic-liposuction-drugs-blackmail-8726438

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Highlight:

Ex-Trump Casino President Tells CNN He Reprimanded Trump for Showing Up With 'Best Friend' Epstein and 19-Year-Old Girl [View all] Mr. Sparkle Jul 17 OP

Assuming this is true. The woman tennis player was Gabriela Sabatini. Wiz Imp Jul 17 #1

Now I'm certain it's a true story. JohnnyRingo Jul 17 #2

He did write book! It came out in 1991. Grins Jul 17 #47

Pics malaise Jul 17 #5

Link doesn't work. ShazzieB Jul 17 #50

Added a new one malaise Jul 17 #51

Yep, that works! ShazzieB Jul 17 #55

Oh, give me a f**king break... Hugin Jul 17 #6

And still married to Ivana kkmarie Jul 17 #10

What's with the "looks unrecognizable" comment? robbob Jul 17 #12

I agree. She looks gorgeous to me too.. padfun Jul 17 #28

Yeah, and while I was reluctant to go there... robbob Jul 17 #31

Click bait, exactly. NoSheep Jul 17 #63

I agree that the sub headline was stupid Wiz Imp Jul 17 #44

Standard clickbait language JoseBalow Jul 17 #48

There ya go, using those big words again.. Permanut Jul 17 #57

"...reunited with Maples, while divorcing his first wife Ivana..." SpankMe Jul 17 #17

I had a huge crush on her Polybius Jul 17 #39

gross Skittles Jul 17 #65

She looks fantastic pfitz59 Jul 17 #70

Weirdly, I remember my father remarking how attractive mchill Jul 18 #74

Colour me soooooo NOT surprised at everything in this story, including niyad Jul 17 #3

That's how I figure the story is true... slightlv Jul 17 #25

Well it's not entirely clear from this guy's narrative FakeNoose Jul 17 #72

Why does he always get away with everything? MIButterfly Jul 17 #4

"Why does he always get away with everything?" Ray Bruns Jul 17 #8

Depends on the definition of "getting away with it" I guess... Moostache Jul 17 #32

Possibly the best summation of the Hollow Felon ever penned Attilatheblond Jul 17 #35

Good analysis of a sick mind. I'd like to add a few street-wise insights: AnotherMother4Peace Jul 17 #37

This analysis is spot on! ShazzieB Jul 17 #53

it isn't all about biology lapfog_1 Jul 17 #61

I have asked myself that question so many times. Trueblue Texan Jul 17 #11

He's a mobster Wicked Blue Jul 17 #43

And that is exactly how he came to be the creature he is today. Lack of consequences. Trust_Reality Jul 17 #34

Oh yeah, his father was a BIG part of it! ShazzieB Jul 17 #58

Two reasons that I can think of. wnylib Jul 17 #59

the bigger question. how does this guy know that the woman as actually 19 and not younger? nt Javaman Jul 17 #7

Because he recognized her. See posts upthread. yardwork Jul 17 #9

Short synopsis of the story Prairie Gates Jul 17 #15

The G.O.P. Casino-Hustler-in-Chief is a Great Sleazebag BoRaGard Jul 17 #13

Get back to me when there's a real story. BWdem4life Jul 17 #14

She was underage for the casino. chia Jul 17 #16

Oooh! HUGE story! BWdem4life Jul 17 #18

The point of the article was that Trump was better friends with Epstein than he wants known, not that she was 19. chia Jul 17 #22

At that point in time, 19 was considered underage. llmart Jul 17 #67

Not disqualifying for life Polybius Jul 17 #40

Did you own the bar? nt intrepidity Jul 17 #52

In this story Marthe48 Jul 17 #19

The point of the story seems to be Trump lying about being BFF with the pedo trafficker MerrilyMerrily Jul 17 #20

The real story is that he's lying about his friendship with Epstein, and the evidence of that is in... Ol Janx Spirit Jul 17 #23

It is illegal to bring anyone under 21 into a casino. yardwork Jul 17 #24

Not excusing anything BWdem4life Jul 17 #27

Because Trump gets away with anything he wants. yardwork Jul 17 #30

Um...the owner was Trump. nt intrepidity Jul 17 #56

Oh... lol BWdem4life Jul 18 #73

Bars are strick like that now, correct Polybius Jul 17 #41

I almost posted the same thing on woman/girl Prairie Gates Jul 17 #33

That's a woman. Let's be honest in our language and get it right. Maru Kitteh Jul 17 #21

Nothingburger: 1. It's CNN!!! 2. 19 y/o is consenting age 3. A casino boss would've been closer to Trump then live love laugh Jul 17 #26

He let 12 year olds gamble in his casino(s) not fooled Jul 17 #29

Do you have a link to any of these allegations from David Cay Jonston? Wiz Imp Jul 17 #42

Johnston states these allegagtions in many interviews on yt re Trump not fooled Jul 17 #45

Thank you! Wiz Imp Jul 17 #46

Trump was not a client. He was a PARTNER ! Bluetus Jul 17 #36

We must stop looking at this like it was just some rich people having sex. Bluetus Jul 17 #38

Trump probably learned the value of kompromat from his mentor Roy Cohn... AntiFascist Jul 17 #66

And remember his spying on nude teen beauty pageant contestants, bragging on Howard stern about it... usregimechange Jul 17 #49

Well she said she was nineteen. twodogsbarking Jul 17 #54

She was nineteen. Wiz Imp Jul 17 #64

That's what she said. twodogsbarking Jul 17 #68

It's been 100% proven she was 19. She was a world famous Tennis star. Wiz Imp Jul 17 #69

But she said she was nineteen. I never said she wasn't. twodogsbarking Jul 18 #76

K&R UTUSN Jul 17 #60

Marla Maples Deep State Witch Jul 17 #62

MM probably isn't fond of unexpected "accidents". Totally Tunsie Jul 18 #77

Reprimanded? efhmc Jul 17 #71

Creepy Scott Alan Swaggerty Jul 18 #75