ALBANY — Donald Trump on Tuesday is set to follow through on his threat to file a formal state ethics complaint against Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, the Daily News has learned.
Trump’s lawyer had initially threatened to file a complaint in early November in retaliation against a $40 million lawsuit that Schneiderman brought against Trump alleging fraud at Trump University.
The complaint, which will accuse Schneiderman of violating the state public officers law, will be filed Tuesday with the state Joint Commission on Public Ethics, said Trump lawyer Jeffrey Goldman. The complaint will allege that Schneiderman, during the investigation of Trump University, met at a bar with Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, developer Jared Kushner, asking for favors while at the same time downplaying the ongoing probe into her father’s venture, Goldman told The News.
It will also allege that, in the course of the investigation, Schneiderman met with Trump Executive Vice President Michael Cohen at a basketball game, according to Goldman.
The anticipated filing comes days before Schneiderman’s case against Trump University is set to be highlighted in the upcoming issue of “Vanity Fair,” due out next week, according to a cover posted online.
Schneiderman spokesman Damien LaVera accused Trump of trying to deflect attention from the facts of the case against him.
“His wild accusations, outlandish conspiracy theories and outright distortions will not distract Attorney General Schneiderman from pursuing justice for the students victimized by Mr. Trump and his scam university,” LaVera said.
A source close to Schneiderman said the AG has not asked Trump for money since taking office, and noted that Ivanka and her husband have a personal relationship with Schneiderman and are not officials at Trump University. The source added that Schneiderman has no recollection of telling anyone that a case against Trump University would or would not be filed.
“The facts speak for themselves,” the source said. “After a thorough investigation and many complaints from New Yorkers who were scammed, the Attorney General filed a case against Trump and his scam university.”
Schneiderman filed the lawsuit in state Supreme Court in Manhattan in August, accusing the mega-rich developer and reality TV star of defrauding more than 5,000 people nationwide through his Trump University.
Trump denies the allegations.
klovett@nydailynews.com