JOIN THE HUNT





We work with information in the public domain. In addition to the Donald Trump projects and events on our timeline, there are many others that we suspect are mob-connected - if not outright owned or controlled by Semion himself. These include many global properties. However, the following items did not land on our timeline due to the opaqueness of Donald’s financials and hidden LLCs, and because we could not find a solid source specifically connecting them to a known mob associate (either through investigative journalism, US or allies intelligence reports, &/or lawsuits).


We will keep digging. We invite you to join in. Anything you find, you can tweet to us at @CitJourno.



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1974



Donald Trump gets Penn Central Railyards purchase option



His purchase option gives him the opportunity to buy the rail yards for $29M. His option lasts for 6 years.
Backed by Fred Trump
Donald’s “first foray” into business
Zoning fights go on through the mid-70s
Grand Jury investigation into how he got the option opened, closed 1979


Reference:

- Simon and Schuster



1976



Commodore Hotel / Grand Hyatt purchased from Penn Central



Partners: Fred Trump, Hyatt Hotel
Trump and Ivana design the renovation.


References

- Vanity Fair Article



1979



Criminal Investigation opened into how Trump got the Penn Central Railyards purchase option



A grand jury is convened to investigate how Donald obtained the option to purchase the rail yards. Trump dispatched Roy Cohn to talk to the US Attny about the investigation. Grand jury investigation goes away quietly. Trump gives up on the rail yards.


References

Trump: The Greatest Show on Earth: The Deals, the Downfall, the Reinvention By Wayne Barrett



1979



Alvin Malnik is denied a casino license by the NJ Gambling



Citing his ties to the mafia, the NJ Casino Commission denies Al Malnik a license.


Reference

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3516999-p0295.html#document/p20/a343829



1981



Plans Change For Barbizon



Trump drops plans to demolish the building to build a hotel and instead converts the building and the building next door into condominiums.



1981



Trump pays $13 Million to buy the Barbizon Plaza Hotel on Central Park South



He gives control to a group of Hong Kong based investors; they keep his name on the project and pay him construction and management fees. He keeps a minority stake.


Reference

- Bloomberg Article



1981



Donald Trump begins buying land for a casino in Atlantic City, NJ



He pays almost a 100% markup on a property purchased from a known mobster, Sal Testa. The straw purchaser is the secretary of Patrick T. McGahn, Jr, the uncle of Trump’s White House Counsel, Don McGahn. Teamsters, Genovese crime family do the concrete work.


Reference

- Fast Company Article



1982



Trump purchases the New Jersey Generals USFL team



According to David Cay Johnston's account of this saga, Trump's hubris is what took the league down. It folded in 1986.


Reference

- New York Times Article



1984



Harrah's at Trump Plaza Opens



Partner: Harrah’s Entertainment (owned by Holiday Inns). Cost: Harrah’s provides $220M in financing to build, pays Trump $24M construction management fee, and agrees to give Trump 50% of profits. Trump does not put any money in.


Reference

- NJ Article



1984



Trump buys Hilton’s unfinished casino after Hilton denied gambling license



He names it Trump’s Castle.
CEO = Ivana. She “signs all checks


Reference

- Vanity Fair Article



1985



Trump buys the New York Foundling Hospital on the Upper East Side



Trump will raze to build the Trump Palace. Construction begins 1989, and it is completed in 1991.


Residents lobby to ban the tower. The New York Times criticizes its design.



1985



Trump closes on the purchase of Mar A Lago



Reference

- Vanity Fair Article




1985



Donald Trump purchased the Penn Central Railyards for $115M



Trump buys the Penn Central railyards for $115M.
He lies to the press, saying he paid $95M. Could have bought for $28M had he not walked away from the option in 1979.



1985



Announces plans to build the world’s tallest building on the site



The community protests.


Reference

- New York Times Article




1985



Trump buys out Holiday Inn's share of Harrah's at Trump Plaza, renames it Trump Plaza



Reference

- NJ Article





1986



Trump promotes Wrestlemania IV and Mike Tyson vs Michael Spinks



Both at Convention Hall, next door to Trump Plaza.


Reference

- NJ Article



1986



Trump drops the eviction suit against the tenants of the Barbizon Plaza Hotel



Reference

- New York Times Article



1987



Trump invited by Soviet Ambassador to Russia to discuss building hotels



He and Ivana visit Moscow and Leningrad (St. Petersburg).


Reference

- USA Today Article



1987



Trump proposes “Television City” plans for the former Penn Central Railyards on the West Side of Manhatan



The city refuses.
Trump tries to bully Mayor Ed Koch. It doesn’t work.


Reference

- New York Times Article



1987



Trump announces plans to build Trump Centre, a shopping mall/hotel in Paramus, NJ



Plans withdrawn in 1991


Reference

- NJ Article



1988



Trump Air established



Trump buys Eastern Air Shuttle from Frank Lorenzo’s Texas Air Corporation.


Reference

- Airways Magazine



1989



Trump buys the Atlantis Casino Hotel in Atlantic City for $63M out of bankruptcy



He renames it the Trump Regency and does not plan to reopen the casino.



1989



Trump Shuttle begins flyin



It goes to the creditors in 1992, when Trump defaults on his debt.


Reference

- Boston Globe Article



1991



Trump agrees to a revised proposal for the Penn Central Railyards, proposed by the community



The development is plagued with delays.
It requires a move of the Westside Highway.


Reference

- New York Times Article



1991



Trump defaults on his loans for Trump Shuttle



Ownership of the company is transferred to the bankers.


Reference

- Time Magazine



1992



Trump announces plans for a “Roman” theme park at the Meadowlands in NJ



It is never built.


Reference

- NJ Article

- NY Daily New Article



1992



Trump Castle and Trump Plaza file Chapter 11 Bankruptcy



Reference

- UPI Article



Please click the the links below to view more items.



1992



Trump gives the Trump Regency hotel back to the bank



Due to a financial restructuring, Trump gives the Trump Regency hotel back to the bank, but allows them to use the name Trump Regency.


Reference

- Infoweb





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