When the New York Attorney General’s Office Sued Trump and his Three Adult Children, Board Members, last year for Misusing the Personal Foundation, the President went to Twitter and Proclaimed “I won’t settle this case!” Today came the Announcement the Case was Settled.
Trump Agreed to Pay $2 Million in Damages and the Donald J. Trump Foundation agreed to Distribute its Remaining $1.78 Million in Assets to other Charities, according to Statement from Attorney General Letitia James.
James said that the President admitted to Personally Misusing his Foundation’s Funds to Advance his 2016 Political Campaign and that as part of the Settlement Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric Trump will have to go to “Mandatory Training” of a Foundation Board Member.
James called the Resolution “a major victory in our efforts to protect charitable assets and hold accountable those who would abuse charities for personal gain.”
A Trump Foundation Spokesperson said the Organization was “pleased” to make the Donations Agreed to in Court and Blamed the Attorney General for Delaying the Foundation’s Dissolution with her “politically motivated lawsuit.” The Spokesperson added the Foundation was Pleased the Attorney General’s “frivolous request” for Punitive Damages was Cast Aside.
The Attorney General’s Office charged the Trump Foundation with Violating State Law barring Nonprofits from Political Activity. The Suit described how shortly before the Iowa Caucuses in January 2016, Trump skipped a Candidates' Debate on Fox News and instead held a Fundraiser for Military Veterans that attracted $5.6 Million, Half of which went to the Trump Foundation. Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski and other Senior Campaign Officials then determined which Parties got the Donations.
The Lawsuit also said $100,000 of Trump Foundation Money was used to settle a Legal Claim against Trump's Mar-a-Lago Resort, $158,000 was spent to settle a Suit against Trump National Golf Club, and $10,000 was Spent at a Charity Auction to Purchase a Painting of Trump that is now Displayed at the Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami.
None of those Costs were Approved by the Charity's Board, whose Members include Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric Trump. The Board had No Criteria for determining how Grant Dollars are Allocated, according to the Suit.
In a Ruling Released Thursday, New York State Judge Saliann Scarpulla found that “Mr. Trump breached his fiduciary duty to the foundation and that waste occurred to the foundation.”
Scarpulla noted that the Attorney General had Sought $2.8 Million from the Trump Foundation. She decided $2 Million was enough because the Money doled out Improperly by Trump Campaign did Eventually reach Charitable Organizations and the President sought to Resolve the Attorney General’s Suit “consensually.”
The $2 Million from Trump and the $1.78 Million of his Foundation's Liquid Assets will be Distributed to Army Emergency Relief, the Children’s Aid Society, City Meals-on-Wheels, Give an Hour, Martha’s Table, United Negro College Fund, United Way of National Capital Area, and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
“No one is above the law,” James said. “Not a businessman, not a candidate for office, and not even the president of the United States.”
Trump will be able to put his Name on any New Foundation, but must have Professional Board Members and use an Outside Financial Money company to handle the Funds.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
