New Jersey prosecutors have collected evidence that supervisors at President Trumps Garden State golf club may have committed federal immigration crimes and the FBI as well as special counsel Robert Mueller have played part in the inquiry, the Daily News has learned.
Anibal Romero, a Newark attorney who represents several undocumented immigrants who used to work at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, said Friday he recently met with investigators from the state attorney generals office and handed over fraudulent green cards and Social Security numbers that management at the club allegedly procured and gave his clients, Victorina Morales and Sandra Diaz.
Before he met with the state prosecutors, Romero said he reached out to Muellers office because, while he wanted to contact federal authorities, he was concerned about looping in the Justice Department, which was headed by Jeff Sessions at the time.
I wasnt sure, one, if theyd take me seriously and, two, if this could backfire on my clients, Romero told The News, referencing the Trump administrations aggressive immigration agenda.
Muellers office, which is separately investigating Trumps campaign for possible collusion with Russians during the 2016 election, made contact and informed Romero the matter was not within their jurisdiction.
A few weeks later, an FBI agent in New Jersey called Romero.
He said to me that he had received a referral from Robert Muellers office and that he already knew the specifics and that he wanted to meet with me in person, Romero said.
Romero then met with two agents at a federal office in Branchburg, N.J., and outlined the same evidence he had already given the AG prosecutors. The agents said they would coordinate with the AGs office, according to Romero.
Romero said hes stayed in touch with the FBI and the attorney generals office but declined to confirm whether either of the agencies have formally opened investigations.
Im confident that federal and state authorities will conduct a complete and thorough investigation, Romero said.
An FBI spokesman declined to comment and so did Muellers office.
Sharon Lauchaire, a spokeswoman for New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, said her office has a policy to neither confirm nor deny investigations.
A White House spokeswoman did not respond to emailed questions.
Morales, a Guatemalan national who is still employed at the club but has stopped going to work, and Diaz, a Costa Rican national who used to work there and has since obtained legal status, are among at least five undocumented housekeepers at the club who allege they were set up with fraudulent documents and subjected to abuse and racial harassment.
Morales and Diaz first came forward with their allegations in interviews with The New York Times earlier this month.
Both women allege management at the Trump club knew they were undocumented and set them up with fake work documents.
In Morales case, Romero said a supervisor compiled all of her information and then took her photo in the laundry room of the club.
A few days later, the boss whos not being named by The News told Morales he had received her fake documents and said he would hold on to them.
This was a practice and pattern, Romero said. My clients felt like they were trapped and they felt like the fake documents could be used against them.
A spokeswoman for the Trump Organization did not return multiple requests for comment.