A New York state judge ordered President
Donald Trump
Thursday to pay $2 million to nonprofits to settle a civil suit against
him, his foundation and three of his children for alleged violations of
charities law.
Barbara Underwood, who served as New York Attorney General at the time, filed the 41-page complaint in June 2018, naming Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and the Donald J. Trump Foundation.
The complaint alleged "persistent violation of state and federal laws
governing New York state charities," including using charitable assets
to promote Trump' businesses, enrich himself personally, and support his
2016 presidential campaign.
Trump has been ordered to pay $2 million himself for breaching fiduciary duty to properly oversee the foundation bearing his name.
"I direct Mr. Trump to pay the $2,000,000, which would have gone to
the Foundation if it were still in existence, on a pro rata basis to the
Approved recipients," the judge wrote, referring to a list of approved
nonprofit organizations.
Among the nonprofits the judge approved to receive funds from Trump
are the Army Emergency Relief, Children's Aid Society, City
Meals-on-Wheels, Give an Hour, Martha's Table, United Negro College
Fund, United Way of Capital Area and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
The complaint was based on an investigation that started in June 2016
under former state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who resigned in May 2018 amid accusations that he physically abused women.
The attorney general's office had sought $2.8 million in restitution
after the probe found Trump had raised that amount in a way "designed to
influence the 2016 presidential election." It also sought penalties and a ban against his three children named in the suit serving on the Foundation's board.
Underwood had forced the suit, claiming Trump and his children
violated campaign finance laws and abused its tax-exempt status, amid
efforts by Trump and his children to get the lawsuit dismissed.
In December, the Trump Foundation, which Trump had started in 1987,
agreed to dissolve under court supervision and disperse assets to other
nonprofit organization within 30 days.
"The court's decision, together with the settlements we negotiated,
are a major victory in our efforts to protect charitable assets and hold
accountable those who would abuse charities for personal gain,"
Attorney General Letitia James, who took the office in January, said.
"My office will continue to fight for accountability because no one is
above the law -- not a businessman, not a candidate for office, and not
even the president of the United States."
Attorneys for the Trump Foundation said
"every penny ever raised by the Trump Foundation has gone to help those
most in need," adding that the court had rejected a "frivolous request
for statutory penalties, interest and other damages."
Trump's attorneys also still claimed Thursday that the lawsuit was
"politically motivated," as they had in unsuccessful effort to dismiss
the case.
"I won't settle this case!," Trump had tweeted in June 2018.
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