Trump's NYPD donations let him bypass gun license restrictions, ex-cop says


President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Michael Cohen allegedly got "VIP treatment" from the New York Police Department, and it apparently helped them score gun licenses that are usually hard to come by.
That's what former NYPD Lt. Paul Dean is claiming in a federal sentencing document he filed Wednesday. The admissions come in response to Dean's guilty plea in a "gun licensing bribery scheme," and in an attempt to soften his Jan. 31 sentencing for the crime, the New York Post reports.
Dean, a former second-in-command in the NYPD's licensing division, retired in 2016 to act as a middleman between his former colleagues and people who were willing to bribe them for an expedited gun license, prosecutors say. He pleaded guilty to the charges last August, and could face up to five years in prison.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
But now, Dean is trying to sweeten his sentence by spilling names of those who "got hard-to-obtain gun licenses — whether they deserved them or not — allegedly because of their money and influence," the Post writes. Trump, Trump Jr., and Cohen got full-carry gun licenses "even though the proper credentials were not in the file because of their generous donations to the Police Athletic League or the NYC Police Foundation," the sentencing document says. Also on the list were the late Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, former Sony CEO Tommy Matola, and actor Tracy Morgan, who had a prior felony conviction.
The people Dean named were not part of the bribery scheme he admitted to being involved with, per the sentencing document. Read more at the New York Post.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A human pyramid, a church on wheels, and more
-
The Week Unwrapped: Is it time for a new world map?
Podcast Plus, why is the pope getting flatmates? And why are seagull 'muggings' on the rise?
-
Ford Ranger Plug-in Hybrid: 'more than just a novelty'
The Week Recommends Europe's first plug-in hybrid pickup is 'surprisingly agile'
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records request
Speed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by Trump
Speed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank plan
Speed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutional
Speed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for rifles
Speed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBI
Speed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'
-
DC protests as Trump deployment ramps up
Speed Read Trump's 'crusade against crime' is targeting immigrants and the homeless