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Judge signs off on shutdown of Trump Foundation after ‘pattern of illegality’ | |
(2 days later) | |
A New York judge has signed off on a deal to shut down Donald Trump’s personal charity after a lawsuit exposed a “shocking pattern of illegality”. | |
Justice Saliann Scarpulla approved the deal to close the Trump Foundation and split its remaining $1.7m funds between other charities. | |
New York’s attorney general and lawyers for the Trump Foundation will have 30 days to provide Scarpulla with a list of organisations and the attorney general’s office will have the right to reject ones it deems unfit. | |
Trump had used the charity to pay off legal settlements within his business and even to buy a painting of himself to hang in one of his golf clubs. | Trump had used the charity to pay off legal settlements within his business and even to buy a painting of himself to hang in one of his golf clubs. |
The news that the charity will shut down was announced on Tuesday by New York’s attorney general, Barbara Underwood, who said the Trump Foundation had signed a stipulation agreeing to dissolve the foundation under judicial supervision. | |
The action follows a court decision last month allowing Underwood’s lawsuit against the Trump Foundation, whose directors are Trump and his children Ivanka, Don Jr and Eric. | |
In a statement, Underwood said: “Our petition detailed a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation – including unlawful coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing, and much more. This amounted to the Trump Foundation functioning as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr Trump’s business and political interests.” | In a statement, Underwood said: “Our petition detailed a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation – including unlawful coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing, and much more. This amounted to the Trump Foundation functioning as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr Trump’s business and political interests.” |
She added: “This is an important victory for the rule of law, making clear that there is one set of rules for everyone.” | She added: “This is an important victory for the rule of law, making clear that there is one set of rules for everyone.” |
The attorney general had claimed the charity was used as a “piggy bank” to boost Trump Sr’s 2016 presidential campaign, violating rules that bar not-for-profit groups from engaging in certain types of political activity. | The attorney general had claimed the charity was used as a “piggy bank” to boost Trump Sr’s 2016 presidential campaign, violating rules that bar not-for-profit groups from engaging in certain types of political activity. |
The suit claimed that up to $3m in such funds boosted Trump’s campaign. Among examples of improperly used funds is the allegation that the charity spent $10,000 on a giant painting of Trump himself. | The suit claimed that up to $3m in such funds boosted Trump’s campaign. Among examples of improperly used funds is the allegation that the charity spent $10,000 on a giant painting of Trump himself. |
The lawsuit alleged that during the 2016 campaign, Trump received more than $2m at a fundraiser in Iowa and the money went to his foundation. The lawsuit said Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, determined when and where money would be given away. | The lawsuit alleged that during the 2016 campaign, Trump received more than $2m at a fundraiser in Iowa and the money went to his foundation. The lawsuit said Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, determined when and where money would be given away. |
At least five $100,000 grants were made to groups in Iowa in the days immediately before the 1 February 2016 Iowa caucuses. | At least five $100,000 grants were made to groups in Iowa in the days immediately before the 1 February 2016 Iowa caucuses. |
In November, Justice Scarpulla found that the president was not “immune” from state lawsuits, as Trump has claimed in other litigation. | |
Following the announcement of the shutdown, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) executive director, Noah Bookbinder, said: “The Donald J Trump Foundation has abused the rules governing non-profit charitable foundations and admitted to breaking the law. It apparently operated for the sole purpose of benefiting Donald Trump. | Following the announcement of the shutdown, the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (Crew) executive director, Noah Bookbinder, said: “The Donald J Trump Foundation has abused the rules governing non-profit charitable foundations and admitted to breaking the law. It apparently operated for the sole purpose of benefiting Donald Trump. |
“Crew filed complaints calling for investigations into the Foundation for improper political activity, lying on its tax returns, and self-dealing to benefit Donald Trump, among other problems. It is good to see this fraud is finally over.” | “Crew filed complaints calling for investigations into the Foundation for improper political activity, lying on its tax returns, and self-dealing to benefit Donald Trump, among other problems. It is good to see this fraud is finally over.” |
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