By Ben Kamisar
Newly resurfaced audio from 1992 shows Donald TrumpDonald TrumpMeghan McCain: Dad lacked ‘easy choice’ on Trump Trump in '92: No jail time for rapist Mike Tyson Exclusive: Trump campaign CEO wanted to destroy Ryan MORE arguing that Mike Tyson shouldn't be sent to jail after he was convicted of rape.
In the earlier audio, Trump laments Tyson's conviction as a "travesty" and says "I hate to see what's happened to him."
He proposes that the world heavyweight boxing champion should donate the proceeds from his upcoming fights in order to avoid jail time, a figure he pegs as between $20 million to $30 million per fight.
"My concept is for the state of Indiana, maybe $20 million, a lot of money, the proceeds from his next fight, his next two fights for rape victims," Trump says.
"I think that's a lot better than having Mike Tyson serve jail for 10 years or something. I think it's gonna do a lot more in terms of a cause."
Trump went on to add that while he's never seen Tyson acting inappropriately around women, he's seen questionable conduct from women directed at Tyson.
"I've seen women going around touching him. He walks in a room and the women start grabbing him and grabbing his ass and grabbing anything else they can grab on him," Trump says.
Tyson was found guilty of raping an 18-year-old woman in 1992. He served less than three years of a six-year sentence in an Indiana prison.
Trump has touted Tyson's endorsement while on the stump and had to shoot down rumors that he invited the boxer to speak at the Republican National Convention after Bloomberg Politics reported Tyson would attend.
"Iron Mike Tyson was not asked to speak at the Convention though I'm sure he would do a good job if he was. The media makes everything up," Trump tweeted in July. Tyson did not end up attending the event.