A conservative super PAC targeting Donald Trump began running a new TV ad that links the billionaire real estate mogul to business associates who are felons, convicted drug dealers and shady characters with alleged Mafia ties.
The 30-second spot is part of American Future Fund’s $1.75 million ad buy in the crucial primary battleground of Florida, where the GOP establishment hope to block Mr. Trump’s march to the nomination.
“Trafficking convictions. Prior Mafia ties. This isn’t a drug cartel, these were Donald Trump’s business associates,” says the baritone male narrator in the ad. “Trump entrusted convicts to help him run his company, who would he entrust to run the country.”
It cuts to a video clip form a Fox News interview in which Mr. Trump says: “I know the best negotiators.”
The TV ad echoes rival Sen. Ted Cruz’s attacks raising questions about whether Mr. Trump’s tax returns, which the front-runner has been hesitant to release, would expose Mafia ties. However, the super PAC does not back Mr. Cruz and previously ran ads against him in Iowa and South Carolina.
American Future Fund also has been running ads that allege Mr. Trump’s real estate program, Trump University, ripped off students.
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Mr. Trump forcefully defended the program, released post-program surveys that showed some of the students featured in the ad gave the program “excellent” ratings and said they would recommend it to friends.
The new ad, titled “Best Negotiator,” highlighted Mr. Trump’s business relationships with three men:
• Felix Sater, described as a convicted stock scammer with “previous Mafia ties,” who was promoted to a senior advisor position.
• Joe Weichselbaum, who the ad said was convicted felon who worked as a helicopter pilot for Trump.
• Raoul Goldberg, who was described in the ad as having a record for trafficking ecstasy and participated in a Trump real estate venture in Philadelphia.
The Trump campaign did not immediate respond to questions about the ad.
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“He claims that as a businessman, he will bring in the ’greatest minds,’ the ’most talented’ people,’ and ’the best negotiators.’ But the more Americans learn about Donald Trump, the more they realize that he will really bring in people who are just like him: morally bankrupt frauds,” American Future Fund adviser Stuart Roy said in a statement.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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