The large donation, made by the Donald J. Trump Foundation in 2013, violated federal rules that prohibit charities from making donations to political candidates. Trump and his team also failed to disclose the large gift to the Internal Revenue Service, instead reporting that the donation was given to an unrelated group with a similar name — effectively obscuring the contribution.

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Bondi ultimately decided not to open an investigation against Trump’s embattled for-profit education business.

Trump paid the IRS a $2,500 penalty this year after reports surfaced about the gift and disclosure error. Representatives for the Trump Organization said that Trump reimbursed the foundation the full $25,000 from his own accounts after watchdog groups and news organizations began asking questions. The Trump business said it had taken all necessary steps to correct the errors.

Asked by reporters what he expected to receive in return for his donation, Trump said that he and Bondi have known each other for years.

“I have a lot of respect for her. Never spoke to her about that at all. I just have a lot of respect for her and she’s very popular,” he said.

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Marc Reichelderfer — who worked as a consultant on Bondi’s reelection effort — told the Associated Press in June that Bondi spoke with Trump and solicited the donation herself. Reichelderfer said that Bondi had not been aware of the complaints against Trump University when she asked for the contribution. It was unclear if Trump meant Monday that he had never discussed the donation with Bondi — effectively contradicting Reichelderfer — or if he had simply never mentioned the Trump University case. The campaign would not comment for this story.

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But the timeline has emboldened Trump’s critics to accuse him of making a political bribe. The pro-Bondi organization received the donation just four days after her office said it was considering joining New York state in investigating complaints against the for-profit education business.