'They think we're stupid': Ex-GOP chair doesn't buy claims of man who paid Trump's bond

Don Hankey of Knight Specialty Insurance swears he's never met or spoken to Donald Trump, but former Republican Party chairman Michael Steele isn't buying it.

Hankey helped arrange Trump's $175 million bond, Bloomberg News reported. The man is also the biggest share holder in Axos, the bank that refinanced Trump Tower.

"Yes, I voted for him in the past, but this is a business deal and this is what we do," Hankey told Bloomberg. "I have never met Donald Trump, nor talked to him on the phone."

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While there would be nothing illegal or underhand if Hankey did know Trump and gave him funds, Steele questioned his claim.

MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace pointed to former FBI agent Peter Strzok's book, Compromised: Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J. Trump, in which he wrote there are "geopolitical and national security concerns in question ... where a president's money comes from."

She pointed out that there are ethical questions at a time when Trump is running for president.

Wallace said that NBC News outlined two loans that Axos gave Trump, together totaling over $225 million. Steele didn't believe that Hankey was unaware of the loans from Axos.

"Okay. Sure. I'm going to lend you $125 million and not know about it. Or not be aware," he said, laughing.

"This is the thing, they all think we're stupid," Steele continued. "They'll put this out in the ether and we'll say, 'Okay, that makes sense.' There is a reason why 30-some-odd other banks and surety firms said no. And so there has to be a reason why he said yes. And that is because — especially because — he's running for president."

Steele also agreed that it was essential to know if there was a deal between the two men in exchange for the funds.

"Again, this is only $175 million of a $454 million judgment," he explained. "So, the question still remains: what happens to the other, you know, $270 some million dollars that is not being discussed right now? There is that piece."

"Is there some back deal to sort of cover that down the road? How is this deal put together? And that level of scrutiny has to be a part of this conversation. I'm sorry you just cannot get away with, 'Oh, well I never met the guy, I've never really talked to him. But I've given him over $100 million three times. Stop."

See the video below or at the link here.

'They think we're stupid': Ex-GOP chair doesn't buy claims from man who paid Trump's bondyoutu.be