Why would Trump’s Vegas friend personally guarantee a $30 million bank loan to Trump? Yes, the loan is illegal if it went to the campaign. But more interesting to me: did Trump have a source of money too toxic to pump directly into Trump Org, but that he could send to his buddy?

It’s possible that Ruffin (the friend) did the loan in anticipation of future benefits. But consider:

1. Trump wasn’t President, so it was a $30 million gamble that the bribery would even be effective
2. Trump was trailing badly in polls and almost no one believed he would win.

It feels more likely to me Ruffin was helping Trump because Deutsche Bank said no. Whatever scheme was going on at Deutsche that they put a stop to during the spring of the campaign was picked up by Ruffin.