ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is defending her decision to accept a $25,000 donation from Donald Trump while her office was fielding consumer complaints about Trump University.
For the first time, Bondi directly answered questions on Tuesday about the 2013 donation from Trump's family foundation.
She said she has no regrets about accepting the money from Trump and repeated that her office did nothing improper. Bondi also said it would have looked like a "bribe" if she had chosen to return the money once questions arose.
"There was nothing improper about it. So there was no reason to return it," Bondi said.
Bondi personally asked Trump for money and received a $25,000 check for her political organization.
Emails from the same time period show that her office had been asked about a lawsuit filed by New York against Trump University.
Bondi referenced the work she's done in the state, such as, fighting pill mills and human trafficking.
But her lack of involvement in investigating Trump University is causing her problems.
A public policy poll found that 34 percent of Florida voters back Bondi and her position as attorney General.
WFTV political analyst Dr. Rick Foglesong said the timing of the payment was hard to ignore.
"There was never an investigation into Donald Trump by this office," Bondi said.
Bondi's predecessor, Bill McCullum, fielded dozens of complaints about Trump University, but never opened an investigation.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
