New York attorney general expands investigation of Donald Trump Foundation
Donald Trump took $100,000 out of his foundation and gave it to a political group trying to stop the re-election of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Bad news for Trump, it wasn't enough.
The New York attorney general's investigation of the Donald J. Trump Foundation appears to have broadened to include new allegations of self-dealing by Trump that surfaced after the probe began, TPM has learned.
The “self-dealing” is primarily associated with how Donald Trump used foundation money to pay his own bills.
Donald Trump spent more than a quarter-million dollars from his charitable foundation to settle lawsuits that involved the billionaire’s for-profit businesses, according to interviews and a review of legal documents.
The self-dealing even included paying off a lawsuit Donald Trump acquired by trying to cheat someone at a charity golf tournament.
The investigation by the New York attorney general also includes looking into gifts Trump has purchased for himself using foundation funds, including a signed football helmet and at least two giant portraits of Trump.
Self-dealing -- or the use of a charity's money to the personal benefit of one of its operators -- is a major no-no in charity world, and a violation of both state law in New York, where the Trump Foundation is registered, and IRS regulations, according to legal and tax experts.