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Res No 116-16-14671RESOLUTION NO.116-16-14671 A Resolution calling upon Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to reopen the investigation into the Trump Institute and any affiliated entities and individuals,appoint independent special counsel,and join the lawsuit filed by the State of New York. WHEREAS,on August 25,2013,the Attorney General of theState of New York,Eric Schneiderman,announced that hehasfileda lawsuit against Donald Trump,The Trump Entrepreneur Institute ~formerly namedTrump University LLC ("Trump University"),and Michael Sexton,former President of Trump University for engaging in persistent fraudulent, illegal and deceptive conduct in connection with the operation of Trump University;and WHEREAS,the wrongdoings are detailed in Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's press release dated August 25,2013,attached asan exhibit tothis resolution;and WHEREAS,inan April 29,2016 articleinthe Orlando Sentinel,Democrats have scolded Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi fornot doing more to help thecase against Trump University,since she has joined lawsuits brought by other states,including actions against the Affordable Care Act and a ruling allowing the Environmental Protection Agency to enforce a cleanup plan for Chesapeake Bay;and WHEREAS,the Washington Post reported on March 22,2016,that Trump campaign aides admitted that one of Mr.Trump's charities made a donation to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's campaign;and WHEREAS,when asked whether Mrs.Bondi planned togive back the $25,000 donationorgiveitto charity,Bondi spokesperson WhitneyRay referred a reporter toBondi campaign aides,who apparently didnotrespond,according tothe OrlandoSentinel article;and NOW THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI,FLORIDA: Section 1,The City Commission hereby calls upon Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to reopen the investigation intotheTrump Institute,andany affiliated entities and individuals, join thecasefiledbytheAttorneyGeneral of theState of NewYorkagainstDonaldTrump, TheTrump Entrepreneur Institute-formerlynamedTrumpUniversityLLC("Trump University"),andMichaelSexton,formerPresident of TrumpUniversity,andappoint independent counsel to pursue thecase. Section 2.TheCityCommissiondoesfurtherdirecttheCityClerktosendcopies of this Resolution tothe Governor,hisCabinet,andallmembers of the Florida Legislature,theUnited States Attorney General,Loretta Lynch,the Florida League of Cities,all elected officials inthe State of Florida,and the Florida Association of Counties. Section 3.Severability.If anysectionclause,sentence,orphrase of thisresolutionis foranyreasonheldinvalidorunconstitutionalbyacourt of competentjurisdiction,theholding shallnotaffectthe validity of the remaining portions of thisresolution. Page 1 of2 Res.No.116-16-14671 Section 4.Effective Date.This resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption byvote of theCity Commission. PASSED AND ADOPTED this21st day of June 2016. READ AND LAN( VED AS TO FORM, ALITY Page 2of2 APPROVE MA COMMISSION VOTE: Mayor Stoddard: Vice Mayor Welsh: Commissioner Harris: Commissioner Edmond: Commissioner Liebman: 4-0 Yea Yea Yea Yea absent 6/7/2016 o o Trump's Get Rich Seminar Partnered WithCouple Prosecuted for Fraud -TheDailyBeast 1 Veggie That Kills High Blood Pressure Leam the1weird ingredient 1rom thegrocery store that stops high blood pressure dead inits tracks.Click Here ToLearn More bloodpressuresoiution.com GET RICH TO THIS 04.07.i6i.-oo am et Trump's Get Rich Seminar Partnered With Couple Prosecuted forFraud POLITICS ENTERTAINMENT WORLD U.S.NEWS TECH ♦HEALTH BEASTSTYLE VIDEO illicit i no uunuiu oiut icu mo vvcuiui ouiimiuio,iic lumwu tu u uuupic miuiu uncunoicu legal past. DonaldTrump needed somehelpin2006.HewassettingupTrumpInstitute,a series of seminarsteachingthe"waytowealth,"andwaslookingforexpertiseonhowthe conference business worked. Heturnedtoapairwithatroublesomelegalhistorytogivehimahand. Mike and Irene Milin were known to law enforcement officials ina number of states for a hostofget-rich-quickschemesandallegedrealestatescams.Theywereprosecutedbythe Texasattorneygeneralfordeceptivetradepractices,andsuedbythemakersof Lifestyles oftheRich andFamous,tonamejusttwoofthe Milins'manylegal entanglements.But MichaelSexton—then president ofTrumpUniversity,which he saidatthetimeincluded theTrump Institute seminars,aswellasonlinecourses—partneredwiththeMilins nonetheless,according toa report from TheSacramentoBee. TheMilins'oft-investigated National Grants Conferences,in effect,becametheblueprint forTrumpInstitute.Thetwoseminarbusinessesusedsomeofthesamespeakersand shared office spacein Boca Raton,Florida.TheadsforTrump University promisedto http//www.thedailybeastcom/articles/2016/04/07/these-grifters-inspired-trump-institute.htmi Q,©&^y V7 6/7/2016 Trump'sGetRichSeminarPartneredWithCoupleProsecuted for Fraud-TheDailyBeast Dt__make people "millionaires,"just asthe National Grants Conference commercials told customers they'd make them rich from government money.And.most importantly,Trump Institute operated itself in much the same manner as National Grants Conferences:After a promise ofeasy riches andafree seminar, customers werecajoledintodolingout moreandmoremoneytogetthekeytounlockingwealth. Theprobleminbothcases:Thekeyneveropenedanything. TheMilinslaunchedNationalGrantsConferencesin1998,promisingcustomerslucrative grantsfromthegovernment,whichtheycouldnot fulfill.Beforethat,thecouplebasically gotrunoutofeachstateinwhichtheysetupadifferent iteration ofthesameshady practice.Similar!}-,TrumpInstitutepromisedtomakepeopleintosavvyrealestate investors,thanks to ad.\ice from The Donald himself.The customers never met the straw- hairedimpresario,however.Theyonlygottoseeacardboardcutoutofhislikeness. haul-.,*!Y-,wrt]i''--ClniuNt- Mculi..!v.-,ruV KtrnlVo Ov.-j iiisiii kUk lv«)I'm/Win:-v\kvn>m. OnnpHcatiirj iHis^k) I lew ]vmaid Trump's Son- !i:•1/nv is Sh.ipiii^Ills NGCwent bankrupt just twoyearsafterthe partnership began,afterbeingdoggedbya majorcomplaintfrom34 attorneys generalacrosstheUnitedStates.TrumpUniversity would alsoearna reputation asafraud operation andbothNewYorkStateandformer students have brought charges against the Republican frontrunner asaresult. Andhe'snot shaking those charges anytime soon;Trumpmayhavetotestifyin court this summer inthecivil suit brought byhis unhappy students,whilehewould otherwise be trying to consolidate his grip on the Republican nomination. TheGOP frontrunner has staked hispolitical brand onhis commercial acumen.But http.//www.thedailybeastcom/articles/2016/04/07/these-grifters-tnspired-trump-institute.html 2/7 6/7/2016 Trumps GetRich Seminar Partnered With Couple Prosecuted forFraud-TheDailyBeast Trump's relationshipwiththeMilinscallsintoquestionthatbusiness judgment,while adding to the stink surrounding Trump University. It's unclear why Trump linkedupwitha pair withsuchalonghistoryoflegal trouble in the first place.While Trump's current camp denies any and allinvolvement,thetics between the organizations areclear. NGC's audience was the infomercia!circuit,running long,flashyadsto entice new customers. Triumphant horns played overagold backdrop aswords careened infromoff screen. "The secrets ofhowyoucanget government grants,loans and subsidies."the grainy title card promised before anearly six-minute video presented byNGCbegan.TheMilins peered intothe camera readying themselves to promise riches to die masses. It's oneoftheonly images available online of the couple,whointhe near-decade since this wasfilmed have retreated into quiet seclusion in their BocaRatonhome,less than 30 miles from Donald Trump's PalmBeach palace,Mar-a-Lago. National Grants Conferences claimed that it could offer customers hundreds of billions of dollars in "free"government grants and loans.Following previous models the Milins developed,the program would pro\ide onefreeseminar,afterwhichindividualswere encouraged topay $999 foraccessto this information about grants,which amounted toa seriesof brochures andcounselorswho promised tohelppeoplegetmoney. GETTHEBEAST IN YOUR INBOX!It willnotshockyouthattheoperation .wasn't exactly above board. Entei youi email address By clicking "Subscribe,•'you agiee tohaveread the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Grants.gov lays out the criteria for getting this kindofmoney,whichoftengoesto government organizations and nonprofits.It explicitlywarns against "latenight infomercials"promising"millionsinfreemoney." Mike Milin beganhiscareerasa salesman inthemid-1980sforthenotoriousget-rich- quickschemeartistTony Hoffman,whowasfamousforwearingdollarsign-shapedrings anddrivingabrownlimousinewithalicenseplatereading "NEG0T8R." When Hoffman's company"NationalSuperstarInc."wentbankruptin1986,Milinand hiswife,Irene,begantoruntheirown seminar programs,usinganinfomercialhostedby RobinLeach ofLifestylesoftheRichandFamous toadvertisetheirproducts. According toa 1987 article inthe Los Angeles Times,the half-hour infomercial called "TwoYearsto Financial Freedom"gavethe appearance that thecouplewasactually featuredontheLeach-hostedshow.In fact.Leachwasmerelyhiredfortheday,along witharentedRolls-Royceandajet.Theownersoftheoriginalprogram Lifestyles ofthe Rich and Famous later successfully suedtheMilinsforcop\ingtheir brand,forcingthe coupletoalterthe infomercial tokeepitontheair. In thevideo,Milinclaimsthathebecameabankingexpertafterwritinghismaster's thesisattheUniversityol California,Berkeley,focusing onbankingand sociology.Healso allegesthatheturnedtorealestateinvestingasaresultofbeinglaidoffasa sociology http://wArtw.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/04/07/these-grifters-inspired-trumpHnstitute.W 3/7 6/7/2016 Trump'sGetRichSeminarPartneredWithCoupleProsecutedforFraud-The Daily Beast professoratthe university wherehetaughtaftergraduating.Accordingtothe Times article,Berkeley'sofficeofadmissionshadnorecordofMilinattendingorteachingatthe university.AndKathleen Maclay.ofBerkeley'sMediaRelationsdepartment,toldThe Daily Beast"we have no student records fora Michael Milin." Thenext move forthescammingcouplewasa Texas-based companycalledInformation Seminars International,forwhich they werealso sued—this timebytheTexas attorney generalin 1993—who foundthemliablefordeceptivetradepractices.TheMilins' program promised that ifcustomerspaid$499forwhattheyreferredtoasthe "Milin Method,"thecompanywouldturnaroundandhelpthemre-sellrealestateatgovernment auctions. ThiswasbasicallythesamemethodtheywoulduseintheirpartnershipwithTrump. Then-TexasAssistantAttorneyGeneralBruce Griffiths allegedthatthecouplemade$30 millionannuallyoffthisschemeand that whencustomerstriedtoreachanyone associatedwiththecompanybyphone,noonewouldpickup. In asettlementthatthecouplesignedthatyear,theyandtheirpartnerswerepermanently barred fromclaiming that theyhad become wealthyfromrealestate.TheMilinsalso agreedtousefull names inany testimonials—though the brochures later distributed by NGC in the mid-20oos did not. In 2006,theyear that Trumpjoinedforceswiththenow-bankruptcompany,theMilins wereaccusedof violating Vermont's Consumer FraudActbyWilliamSorrell,the state attorney general at the time.Sorrell called National Grants Conferences "unconscionable andillegal"inpublic documents oftheallegationsreviewedbyTheDailyBeast.The company was ordered topay $65,000 inlegalfeesandan additional nearly $325,000 to customers. Less than ayear later,34 state attorneys generalwrotea letter totheFederal Trade Commissioncallingoutthecompanyfor''deceptiveadvertising."In2010.then-Texas AttorneyGeneralGregAbbotttooklegalactionagainstthecompanyaswell,resultingin them being unable to advertise as they haddonesoin die state. AsourcewhopreviouslyworkedwiththeMilinsat NGC confirmedTrump'sinvolvement withtheaccusedrealestatescammers.Andalawyerinvoh'edinlegalproceedingsagainst theMilinsalsosaidtheTrumpandMilin operations werelinked. TheMilins loaned out some of their staffers toactually deliver seminars for Trump Institute,which have been described as live-action real estate infomercials.At the initial free seminars,attendees wereallegedly encouraged topaynearly $1,500 togoto another three-day conference,where Trumpwas promised to appear andgivehis personal advice. Butifheevercame,evidenceofit doesn't appeal*tohavebeen reported anywhere publicly. Intwo instances cited inaNewYork lawsuit involving Trump University—the umbrella organization for Trump Institute and other "educational"offerings—individuals said that all they received were cardboard cutouts of Trump,rather than personal visits.They were offered accessto the "GoldElite Program"for the priceof $34,995,whichwas littered http://www.the<Jailybeast.com/article5/2016/04/07/these-grifters-inspired-trump-institute.html 4/7 6/7/2016 Trump's Get Rich Seminar Partnered With Couple Prosecuted forFraud-TheDailyBeast with more empty promises. Itis unclear whatifany direct contact Trump himselfhadwiththeMilins,but according toa 2006 report,NGCandthe Trump Institute shared atleast three ofthe same owners and a joint Boca Raton address. YetAlan Garten,current executivevice president and general counselforthe Trump Organization,denied a number of times toTheDailyBeast that Trump hadany prior business with the Milins. "Neither Mr.Trump noranyofhis companies ever workedwithorwere associated with NGC,"Garten emailed.Whensentthe 2006 article referencing their business deal,Garten onceagainsaid "Untrue.Never partnered orassociatedwith NGC."Whenaskedathird time,he responded "simply not accurate." But Michael Sexton,the president of Trump's now-defunct Trump University-,stated in 2006.according to The Sacramento Bee's story,thatNGCwas selected to partner with them because they were "the best in the business." TheMilins themselves didnot respond to multiple calls and emails fromTheDailyBeast. "I don't knowhowto describe Mike.Hewasanegomaniac,notverysmart,insecure guy who struck lightning ina bottle,"a source whoworkedatNGC,andwished not tobe named,toldTheDailyBeast.He confirmed that NGCwasusingitsown infrastructure- staffers andoffice space—to helprun Trump's fledgling education operation. Hesitant toeven speak the Milins'name aloud,thesourcesaid,'"Theywanted the big house and thefancycar and couldgivea shit." Nolan Apostle,a 55-year-old small-business ownerinSan Francisco,saidhe learned this the hard way. "Theyshoulddefinitelybeinjail.Theyshoulddefinitelypaytheconsequences."Apostle toldTheDailyBeastabouttheMilins.Hepaidthe$999ataseminarinCaliforniainthe late '90s and didn't receiveallthe materials hewaspromised.Afterhalfadozen attempts toreachpeopleaffiliatedwiththecompany,Apostle didn't gethismoneyback. "The)'said,'We'll getbackto you.'Of course they didn't call."hesaid. Apostlesayshespoketonearly200 customers abouttheirexperienceswiththecompany andnotasingle person gotwhat they werepromised. "Ihonestly—I'venevermetorspokentoanybodythatactuallygotagrant through their system." Ed Magedson.whorunsRipoffReport.com.sharedanumberofemailswithTheDaily BeastinwhichcustomersusedhisservicestohelpthemgetindividualrefundsfromNGC whentheydidn'tgettheproductstheywere promised.Hissiteisfullofthesecomplaints about thecompany. Bythetimethat NGC filedforChapter 11 bankruptcyin2008.they owed $2.1 millionto 20oftheircreditors,mostofwhichwasrecoveredbyScottN.Schrcibcr,aChicago-based http//www thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/04/07/these-grifters-inspired-trump-institute.html 5/7 6/7/2016 Trump'sGetRichSeminarPartnered With CoupleProsecutedforFraud-TheDailyBeast lawyer. "Itwasatypical take thecustomers'money,givethemacheapintroductionclass,tryto getthemanupsell[scheme],"Schreibersaiddescribing NGC toTheDailyBeast.Hesaid the company provided "novalueforits customers"and that theMilinshad committed fraud. ThecouplealsohasanoutstandinglawsuitfiledinPalm Beach Count)'courtallegingthe Milinsdefaultedonacommercialpropertylease.Thecourthasnotrespondedtoan inquiry fromTheDailyBeastaboutthestatusofthislitigation. Its unclearwhen,orif.theMilinsandTrumppartedwaysbutTrump University largely ceased operations by2011.Twoyearslater.NewYork State filedaS40million lawsuit against TrumpUniversityallegingillegalpracticesandfalseclaims.Ayearlater,a separate class-actioncivilsuitwastiledinSan Diego,invohingclaimantsfromCalifornia, Florida,and New York.ThelawsuitsarestillpendingandTrump'sattorneyshave expressed interest in postponing further litigation until afterthe presidential election.The plaintiffs are seeking togototrialoverthe summer. Aftertheirbusinesscrashedandburned,theMilinslatergot politically involved,hostinga fundraiserforMittRomneyinBocaRaton,shortlyafterhisdisastrous"47percent" comment.Theyhavecontributedconsiderableamountsofmoneytopoliticalcandidates, but surprisingly nonetoDonald Trump thiscycle.MarcoRubio,however,receiveda $1.500 checkfrom Irene Milinas recently asFeb.29,accordingtoFederalElection Commission filings. WhyTrump,whoatthetimehadan internationally recognizedrealestate brand anda realitytelevisionshow,wouldallegedlyteamupwithaubiquitouslyknownsnakeoil salesman is anyone's guess.Butfora former associate oftheMilins,the answer was simple. "It wasall about the money.Likeallthe other deals." PROMOTED STORIES How can weusebig data How To Turbo Through to improve patient Credit Card Debt With A outcomes?Powerful 2StepMethod BETTERWORKINGWORLD.EY.COUNNGTREE What Donald Trump Has Been Hiding About His WiteMelania UBERHAVOC Should Sites LikeThisBe Banned? 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REFINERY29 15Photosof MelaniaThat Donald Trump Wishes WedForget TIME TO BREAK These yoga pants are the fasting selling pants in history Hollywood's Interracial Couples Prove Love Doesn'tDiscriminate POXER NEWS Recommended by http//www.thedailyrjeast.com/articles/2016/W^6/7 6/7/2016 Trump's GetRich Seminar Partnered WithCouple Prosecuted forFraud-TheDaily Beast ABOUT ADVERTISE CONTACT JOBS HELP PRIVACY COMMUNITY POLICY TERMS &CONDITIONS COPYRIGHT &TRADEMARK *20T6 THE DAILY BEAST COMPANY LLC http://vvww.thedailybeasl.eom/articles/2016/04/07/these-grifters-inspired-trump-mstitute.N 7/7 FRED GRIMMJUNE 8.2016 4:24PM Donald Trump buys himself an attorney general for $25,000 HIGHLIGHTS PamBondiwasamongTrump'ssurrogatesonconferencecallascandidate railed aboutjudge's ethnicity Attorney generalsolicited campaign donationfromTrumpin 2013 evenasherofficeconsidered fraud complaints against TrumpUniversity AfterBondi received illegal $25,000 contribution,attorney general'sofficelostinterestinTrumpUniversity BY FRED GRIMM fgrimm@miamiheraid.com © Bristol-White Theywere described as Donald Trump's "surrogates,"a cabal of second-tier politicians includedinthe now-infamous conference c unrepentant presidential candidaterenewedhisrantaboutthat "Mexican"judge.Youknow...theoneborninIndiana. BloombergPolitics,whichbrokethestory,reportedthathas-beenslikeformer Arizona Gov.JanBrewerandformerMassachusetts wereonthelineasTrumpwentoff(again)onU.S.DistrictJudgeGonzalo Curiel andtoldhissupporterstofollowhisincendiary le should demonize thejudgeandcallanyreporterwho questioned the strategy aracist. NobodymuchcaredwhatprivatecitizenslikeBrewerandBrownmightbeupto.ButFloridianscouldonlycringewhenanotherof conference callsurrogateswas identified.PamBondi,supposedly,worksforus. Our state's chieflegal officer waspartytoadiatribethatconservativelegalscholarscriticizedas contemptuous ofAmerican jurispn Republicanpoliticalleadersdecriedasoutrightracist.Apparently,Florida'sattorneygenerallistenedwithoutofferingawordofpro Itgetsworse.TrumphasbeenrailingthatJudgeCuriel shouldn't beallowedtopresideoveracivilfraudsuitagainstTrump Univer thejudge's Mexican heritage.(Because,accordingtohisconvolutedreasoning,TrumpintendstobuildthatwallalongtheMexican TheconferencecalloccurredonMonday.Thatsameday,aninvestigativeAPreportrevealedthatbackin 2013,evenasthe attorn wasreceivingangrycomplaintsfrom Floridians claimingtheyhadbeendefraudedbyTrump'sfauxuniversityandnotlongafterherornce mnmatea FloridamightjoinNew York's $40millionlawsuitagainstTrump University,Bondi had"personallysolicited"acampaigncontributionfromTrump. AFTER A $25,000 CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION,BONDI'S OFFICE LOST INTEREST IN FRAUD COMPLAINTS AGAINST TRUMP UNIVERSITY $119.95 Chattanooga -Black Itgetsevenworse.AfteraBondicampaign committee receiveda $25,000 checkfromtheTrumpFoundation,theattorney general's officedropped itsinquiryintoTrumpU.(InacalltotheMiami Herald/Tampa BayTimesbureauTuesday,Bondiprotested that herofficehadneveropeneda formal investigation.) Andworsestill.Thedonation—fromTrump'sSection 501©(3)charitable foundation —wasillegal.AndneverreportedtotheIRS.Tax-exempt charitablefoundationsareprohibitedfromengaginginpoliticalactivity.That'sforTrumpandtheIRStoworkout.Buthowthehellcoulda prohibitedtransgression like thatgounremarkedfornearlythreeyearsbyitsrecipient,Florida'schieflegalofficer?Howwas it thattheveryattorney general failedtocheckthe provenance ofher $25,000 donation? Whichonlyaddsanothersleazychapterto Bondi's historyofbentethics.In 2014,TheNew York TimesreportedthataWashington lobbying firm specializingininfluencingstateattorneysgeneralhadlavishedconsiderableattentiononBondi,showeringherwithgifts,exoticjunketsand campaigncontributions.Meanwhile the Florida AttorneyGeneral's Office lostinterestinpursuingfraudallegationsdoggingthefirm'svariousclients. Despitetheethicalconflicts,BondiisscheduledtoappearwithTrumpata campaign rallyinTampaSaturday.WhenDonaldTrumpbuyshimselfan attorney general,hegetshis money's worth. Fred Grimm:fgnmm(S)rniamiherald com,@grimm_fred RELATED CONTENT •Boston lawyer's donation accusations badger Bondi •PamBondi 'devastated'by questions raised about Donald Trump's $25,000 donation •WhokissedDonaldTrump's rear?Florida Attorney GeneralPamBondi,APreports f *a r* MOREFREDGRIMM COMMENTS 29 Comments gM.ii.Ljuttmi-3jn.mct Bristol -While