Donald Trump has received his fair share of attacks over his real estate company’s controversial use of “eminent domain.” Various outside groups have tried to hit Trump on the issue in the past – but lately Ted Cruz’s campaign is issuing an all out eminent domain offensive on the New York billionaire.
At the last two Republican debates, Jeb Bush hounded Trump on eminent domain, bringing up a heartbreaking story (according to Bush) about a time Trump used the law to confiscate the private property of an “elderly woman on the strip of Atlantic city.” Ted Cruz’s campaign beat Bush to the punch, and cut this attack ad featuring that “elderly woman.”
In 1993, Donald Trump bought several lots in the area surrounding his Atlantic City hotel, where he intended to build a limousine parking lot. Standing in the way was Vera Coking, who refused to sell her home to Trump. Trump in turn convinced Atlantic City officials to condemn the run-down property and claim it using eminent domain. Coking was set to receive $251,000 – a quarter of the $1 million she turned down 10 years earlier when Penthouse Magazine publisher Bob Guccione offered to buy her out.
We see an old news clip of Donald Trump explaining that he offered Coking a gracious fortune out of the kindness of his heart. The next frame shows Coking herself saying, “Heart? He doesn’t have no heart, that man.”
In the end, Coking won in court and Trump was not able to acquire the property. The property sold in 2014 for half a million dollars to Carl Icahn who owned the debt on Trump Entertainment – the now shuttered casino Trump wanted Coking’s property for in the first place.
But it remains to be seen if that will eventually erode the Donald’s lead, or only strengthen his resolve.
What is Eminent Domain?
Eminent domain is the right of the government or its agent to confiscate private property for the (presumed) greater good – like building a road, bridge or other necessary public utility. As compensation, the owner of the private property is financially compensated, or in Trump’s words, they get “a fortune.”At the last two Republican debates, Jeb Bush hounded Trump on eminent domain, bringing up a heartbreaking story (according to Bush) about a time Trump used the law to confiscate the private property of an “elderly woman on the strip of Atlantic city.” Ted Cruz’s campaign beat Bush to the punch, and cut this attack ad featuring that “elderly woman.”
Donald Trump v. Vera Coking v. Atlantic City
Ted Cruz’s latest ad tells the story of one of Trump’s more sinister eminent domain cases.In 1993, Donald Trump bought several lots in the area surrounding his Atlantic City hotel, where he intended to build a limousine parking lot. Standing in the way was Vera Coking, who refused to sell her home to Trump. Trump in turn convinced Atlantic City officials to condemn the run-down property and claim it using eminent domain. Coking was set to receive $251,000 – a quarter of the $1 million she turned down 10 years earlier when Penthouse Magazine publisher Bob Guccione offered to buy her out.
We see an old news clip of Donald Trump explaining that he offered Coking a gracious fortune out of the kindness of his heart. The next frame shows Coking herself saying, “Heart? He doesn’t have no heart, that man.”
In the end, Coking won in court and Trump was not able to acquire the property. The property sold in 2014 for half a million dollars to Carl Icahn who owned the debt on Trump Entertainment – the now shuttered casino Trump wanted Coking’s property for in the first place.
Republicans Pile on Trump
After all hope for an “establishment alternative” to Donald Trump began to fade following his swift victory in New Hampshire, some of his rivals are beginning to attack him head on, in ways they once tried to avoid.But it remains to be seen if that will eventually erode the Donald’s lead, or only strengthen his resolve.