Extortion has become normal for NY politicians.

Attorney General Schneiderman hit up Trump for donations while probing his school

By CARL CAMPANILE

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s campaign hit up Donald Trump and his pals for contributions while he was investigating the real-estate mogul’s for-profit trade school for illegal business practices, The Post has learned.

The investigation began in May 2011 and, for more than two years, Trump aides claim Schneiderman’s office told them the case was “very weak” and would “go away.”

While the probe was under way, Trump aides said their boss, his family and his associates were repeatedly approached for thousands of dollars in campaign donations by Schneiderman’s political operation.

Trump aides say now they’re being informed Schneiderman’s office is filing a civil suit against the school on Monday — sending The Donald into a full-scale rage against the AG.

“Donald Trump is not the type of individual who will sit down and be extorted,” declared Trump executive Michael Cohen.

Cohen said Trump is livid that Schneiderman is requesting $5 million to pay fines and settle claims by disgruntled students.

Trump University — which charges up to $35,000 for business courses and seminars — was one of five schools under investigation for allegedly engaging in illegal business practices by inflating their success rates.

One of the schools, Career Educational Corp., reached a $10.25 million settlement with the AG this week.

Records show Schneiderman himself schmoozed the Trumps as the investigation continued.

Correspondence viewed by The Post found:

* A fawning handwritten personal letter from Schneiderman to Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner, thanking them for hosting a fund-raising luncheon for the AG.

“Much thanks for the great breakfast. I love meeting new people, and that was a great group,” Schneiderman wrote.

* Schneiderman campaign consultant Celeste Wolter personally appealed to Ivanka to attend a Schneiderman birthday fund-raiser last Dec. 3.

* Trump and associates received a fund-raising invitation last September for an event Schneiderman hosted for California AG Kama Harris. They were asked to donate $5,000.

Trump aides say Schneiderman, a Democrat, is pushing the Trump U. case for political reasons.

“Eric feels he can get political capital by taking on Mr. Trump to fight the perception that he is a weak and incompetent attorney general. It’s nothing more than a cheap publicity trick,” Cohen said.

“Schneiderman told many people that the case was very weak. The case would go away. It just needed to play itself out.”

A source close to the AG said the evidence against Trump required prosecutors to intervene.

“People will see that Mr. Trump has been taking consumers for a ride for several years and costing them thousands and thousands of dollars in the process,” the source said.

The source also said the situation shows the AG isn’t influenced by campaign donations.

“While some politicians are willing to turn a blind eye to fraud because of relationships, the fact that the attorney general is investigating Donald Trump clearly shows he is brave enough to follow this investigation wherever it may lead,” the source said.