Judgeship urged by Trump

Cuban-American backed in emails to Florida governor

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump urged Florida Gov. Rick Scott to give a judgeship to an attorney whose work appears at odds with Trump’s stance on immigration, newly released emails show.

The emails posted online late last week by the Scott administration show Trump recommended that the governor appoint Jose Izquierdo, who had backing from several other south Florida Republicans.

“Dear Rick: A friend of mine recommended this gentleman for a judgeship in Broward County. From what I understand, he is very well-respected in the legal community. Thank you. Sincerely, Donald,” read the May 10 email, to which a two-page biography of Izquierdo was attached.

Thirteen days after Trump’s email, Scott appointed the attorney as a Broward County circuit judge.

Izquierdo, born in Florida of Cuban heritage, has represented criminal immigrants, spoken on immigration issues and once represented the consulates of Mexico and Honduras.

Trump has said criminal immigrants should be deported.

Trump has no apparent direct connection to Izquierdo and why he decided to back him isn’t clear. The Trump campaign has not responded to questions seeking comment.

Izquierdo worked with Fort Lauderdale attorney Bradford Cohen for several years. Cohen had appeared on Trump’s reality show The Apprentice.

Cohen, who said he talks to Trump and members of his organization regularly, said he couldn’t remember if he asked Trump directly to help his former law partner become a judge. But he said that it “could very likely be me.”

Scott did not endorse Trump ahead of the Florida GOP primary. But since then he has become a vocal supporter of the businessman and in July became chairman of Rebuilding America Now, a super political action committee backing Trump.

Jackie Schutz, a spokesman for Scott, said the governor’s decision to appoint Izquierdo had nothing to do with Trump’s outreach.