WASHINGTON POST: … [Donald] Trump wanted to discuss his plan to loosen Florida’s gambling restrictions so he could partner with an Indian tribe and open a casino in the state. He met twice with the lawmaker, then-soon-to-be state House Speaker John Thrasher, once for lunch at the 21 Club in New York and again at Trump’s extravagant Palm Beach estate, Mar-a-Lago. And as Thrasher recalls, Trump was clear about his views on easing Florida law…
But documents and interviews show Trump did seek to open the door to casino gambling in Florida during Bush’s time. Trump had donated to the state GOP, and, according to Thrasher and another former state official who held meetings on the issue on Bush’s behalf, made his views known in the state capital…
Hope Hicks, a spokeswoman for Trump, said the business “never asked Jeb Bush personally to approve casino gambling.” Roger Stone, a Trump confidante and former campaign adviser, told Fox News this week that Trump has tried to get casino gambling under Bush’s Democratic predecessor, Lawton Chiles, but his efforts “ceased” with Bush’s 1998 election, given Bush’s “well known” opposition to expanding gambling… (more)
