Monday, business icon Donald Trump filed a $5 million lawsuit in California against liberal talk show host Bill Maher.
On Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show,” Mr. Maher committed to donate $5 million to charity in exchange for Mr. Trump producing documentation of his birth. Mr. Trump submitted the requested papers but Mr. Maher has yet to pay up. “Prior demands for payment went ignored by Mr. Maher despite the fact that the beneficiaries of this suit will ultimately be the charities,” said Mr. Trump in a statement.
In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization Michael Cohen said that if Mr. Maher could commit $1 million to an Obama superPAC, surely he could donate $5 million to help children and individuals in need.
“Last year, I distinctly recall Bill Maher making a legally binding commitment to give $1 million to a superPAC benefitting President Obama,” said Mr. Cohen. “Mr. Maher should honor the $5 million commitment to the charities of Mr. Trump’s choosing that he made while on the Jay Leno show. Mr. Maher should honor that commitment the same way he did in support for President Obama’s reelection.”
Mr. Trump says if he wins the $5 million lawsuit against Mr. Maher, he will donate the entire amount to the following five charities shared equally: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Hurricane Sandy Victims, March of Dimes, and the Police Athletic League.
“I truly hope the courts find that Mr. Maher must make good on the pledge that will benefit these five extremely worthy charities,” said Mr. Cohen.
Mr. Trump says whether he prevails in court isn’t the point.
“I don’t know whether this case will be won or lost,” said Mr. Trump. “But I felt a major obligation to bring it on behalf of the charities listed.”
Photo credit, left-to-right: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters, Paul Drinkwater/NBC
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