On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the Trump Foundation gave out $258,000 to settle two legal disputes against Donald Trump's for-profit businesses, as well as two other instances that also appear to be prohibited "self-dealing" by a foundation. In one case, Trump agreed to pay $100,000 to charity to resolve fines from Palm Beach, Florida, over a flag pole at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, and in the other, a Trump golf course in New York was sued over a hole-in-one contest, and settled the case for $158,000; in both cases, the check came from the Trump Foundation. Several lawyers with expertise in tax and nonprofit law told the Post and The New York Times these appear to be egregious and clear-cut cases of "self-dealing," or using charity money to benefit the leaders of that charity or their businesses.
On Tuesday night, Trump's presidential campaign issued a statement from spokesman Jason Miller attacking Post reporter David A. Fahrenthold, saying "the Post's reporting is peppered with inaccuracies and omissions from a biased reporter who is clearly intent on distracting attention away from the corrupt Clinton Foundation." Although Miller said the Post has "their facts wrong," the statement did not dispute any facts, nor did it explain how "there was not, and could not be, any intent or motive for the Trump Foundation to make improper payments." Also, as Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler noted, it did not actually deny the allegations.
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