'It's a Stupid Request': Guardian Writer Tries Unsuccessfully to Get Trump to Release His Own College and Passport Records
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Following Donald Trump's game-changing October Surprise — a decidedly unserious promise to donate $5 million to Obama's charity of choice if the president releases his college and passport records to Trump's "satisfaction" — Guardian writer Adam Gabbatt thought it would be only fair to ask Trump to release his own college and passport records, so he phoned up Trump's special counsel, Trump Organization executive VP Michael Cohen.
"I tell you what, he'll provide them to you when you provide yours to him," Cohen told Gabbatt, who "readily agreed to the deal."
Cohen then made it clear that he was just being facetious. "I think what you're doing is you're, whether you're trying to be funny, intentionally or not, actually it's a stupid request on your behalf," he said before spouting a Trump talking point about Obama being "the least transparent president that we've ever had."
Gabbatt insisted that he was taking Trump's ultimatum very seriously, so Cohen offered him a new deal: "Since you want to be so clever...Why don't you turn around and say if Mr Trump releases all of his records to you, you will donate $5m to the charity of his choice?"
Unfortunately, Cohen didn't have $5 million on hand, but agreed to donate a lesser sum. "OK then, $500,000," Cohen returned.
Once more, Gabbatt was forced to decline, but pressed on with the initial offer: To exchange records free of charge.
Cohen, trying again to shake Gabbatt off, demanded his medical records be included as well. The reporter agreed, again, and asked Cohen where he should send the documents, "but Cohen hung up."
Meanwhile, something something Romney's tax returns.
[photo via AP]