Donald Trump Issues Statement Regarding $5 Million Lawsuit Against Bill Maher

By Noel Sheppard | February 04, 2013 | 15:47

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As NewsBusters reported Monday, Donald Trump is suing HBO's Bill Maher for the $5 million the comedian offered to the real estate mogul if he proved that he wasn't the product of his mother having sex with an orangutan.

With the suit having been filed in California court hours ago, NewsBusters has obtained a statement from Trump via his EVP and Special Counsel:

DONALD J. TRUMP SUES BILL MAHER FOR CHARITY
$5 MILLION DOLLARS PROMISED TO CHARITY!
For information call Michael Cohen, EVP & Special Counsel to Donald J. Trump (212) 8**-**** [number redacted by editor]
Donald Trump today filed a lawsuit against talk show host Bill Maher for the $5 million dollars he committed to pay Mr. Trump for charity while being interviewed on the Jay Leno Show. Mr. Trump is hereby demanding the $5 million dollars and issued the following statement:
“I don’t know whether this case will be won or lost, but I felt a major obligation to bring it on behalf of the charities listed, namely Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Hurricane Sandy Victims, March of Dimes, and the Police Athletic League. Bill Maher made an unconditional offer while on The Jay Leno Show and I, without hesitation, accepted his offer and provided him with the appropriate documentation. Prior demands for payment went ignored by Mr. Maher despite the fact that the beneficiaries of this suit will ultimately be the charities named above, who would share equally the $5 million dollars…something I am certain they can desperately use.”
The lawsuit was filed in California.

For some background, Maher while appearing on NBC's Tonight Show in early January offered Trump $5 million if he could prove he wasn't "spawn of his mother having sex with an orangutan."

The following day, Trump's attorney sent a letter to Maher that included Trump's birth certificate and demanded that Maher "remit the $5 million to Mr. Trump immediately and he will ensure that the money be donated to the following five charities in equal amounts: Hurricane Sandy Victims, The Police Athletic League, The American Cancer Society, The March of Dimes, and The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute."

As Maher has yet to fulfill his commitment, Trump has filed suit saying on Fox & Friends Monday morning, "I had an obligation to the charities."

Where does this go from here?

Let's hope Maher does the right thing and sends a check without further ado.

Stay tuned.

Monday, February 4, 2013