March 08, 2016
Presidential hopeful Donald Trump courted Robert LiButti, a mob-linked gambler, at one of his former Atlantic City casinos, flying him in his helicopter and allowing him to party aboard his yacht, the gambler’s daughter tells Yahoo News reporter Michael Isikoff.
And in return for wagering millions at Trump Plaza, Trump’s minions repeatedly removed women and African-Americans from craps games where the high-roller was playing, records from 1991 show.
As a result, Trump Plaza was hit with a $200,000 fine by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission for violating state anti-discrimination laws.
Investigators found that LiButti frequently berated blacks and women with racist language and obscene terms.
And Trump’s flagship casino accommodated him by removing employees who were female or black from the tables where LiButti gambled, according to records.
Trump has denied knowing LiButti, but the gambler’s daughter has said that’s not true.
Edith Creamer, LiButti’s daughter, told Yahoo News that Trump’s account is false.
“He’s a liar,” Creamer told the online news service.
“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.”
Asked for comment , Trump, through his spokeswoman, sent an emailed statement to Yahoo:
“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.”
The former president of Trump Plaza, Jack O'Donnell, has written in his tell-all "Trumped!: The Inside Story of the Real Donald Trump — His Cunning Rise and Spectacular Fall,” about LiButti personally negotiating to sell Trump a racehorse, though the deal eventually fell apart.
O'Donnell recently confirmed the account of their dealings to Yahoo.
To read the whole Yahoo News account, click here.
