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Trump offered campaign cash to squash New England Patriots’ ‘Spygate’ scandal, senator’s son says

In 2008, Donald Trump reportedly tried to squash an investigation of the New England Patriots by offering a prominent US senator ‘a lot of money’

(AFP via Getty Images)

In 2008, Donald Trump allegedly offered to make a large donation to Senator Arlen Specter’s campaign if he stopped an investigation into the New England Patriots, the late senator’s son and ghostwriter told ESPN.

At the time, Senator Specter was leading an investigation into whether the football team had secretly filmed other teams in a scandal known as “Spygate.” Mr Trump, who was friends with quarterback Tom Brady, reportedly wanted the probe to go away.