President Donald Trump complied with a court order on Tuesday and paid $2 million to settle charges that the Trump Foundation misused charitable funds.
Trump paid out the civil penalty to eight different charities as part of the resolution of a lawsuit brought by the New York State Attorney General’s office.
The state-level settlement forced the President to pay $250,000 to eight different charities, and split an additional $1.8 million remaining in the Trump Foundation’s bank account among the eight charities.
“Charities are not a means to an end, which is why these damages speak to the president’s abuse of power and represent a victory for not-for-profits that follow the law,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Each charity ended up receiving $476,140.41 under the settlement. Trump was also forced to admit to misusing charitable funds as part of the settlement.
The Trump Foundation came under scrutiny by the Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold, who tried to verify that the charity was making contributions. Fahrenthold – who received a Pulitzer for his work – instead found that the contributions had not been disbursed, leading to the NY AG investigation.
The Trump Foundation agreed to dissolve in December 2018, and a November 2019 court order mandated that the President pay up the additional funds.
James’ office holds wide authority over charities registered in New York state.
If Obama…
Tell me about it Republicans
This is a con artist grifter of the lowest sort
Anyone else would be in jail
Trump vowed that he would never settle the case, brought by current Attorney General Barbara Underwood. The president took to Twitter on Thursday to blame the action on “disciples” of former Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who resigned in May after four women in a magazine article accused him of physical abuse.
“The sleazy New York Democrats, and their now disgraced (and run out of town) A.G. Eric Schneiderman, are doing everything they can to sue me on a foundation that took in $18,800,000 and gave out to charity more money than it took in, $19,200,000. I won’t settle this case!” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Making America Great Again, one lawsuit settlement at a time.
How was this settlement paid? Where did the money come from? Is he using tax payer dollars to pay it or money from the deplorable rubes who donate to him or what? Who did he scam for the money to pay the settlement?
This world needs more Letitia Jameses.