Donald Trump’s family-run charity has agreed to be shut down, following allegations that the US president and others misused its funds.
The Attorney General of New York State, Barbara Underwood, announced that the Trump Foundation would be closing, and accused Trump and his three eldest children of using the foundation and its funds for “private and political gain”, the BBC says.
The New York Times says Underwood accused the foundation of “functioning as little more than a chequebook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests,” and of engaging in “a shocking pattern of illegality”, including coordinating with Trump’s successful presidential campaign.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
CBS News reports that the foundation allegedly “raised money at a nationally televised fundraiser in January 2016, then allowed Trump campaign staffers to [illegally] dictate how the money was spent in grants”.
Despite closing down the foundation, the case against the US president and his children Donald Jr, Ivanka and Eric would continue, prosecutors say.
If successful, Donald Trump and his three eldest children would be banned from the boards of other New York charities, as well as forced to make payments of at least £2.2 million in restitution and penalties.
The Trump foundation is to be wound up under the supervision of the New York Attorney General’s office, which will oversee the process, including to which charities the foundation’s remaining assets will be distributed.
A lawyer for the Trump Foundation, Alan Futerfas, issued a statement criticising Underwood for attempting to “politicise” the issue, while claiming that the foundation had been seeking to close down itself since Trump’s election in 2016.
-
DHS preps for major ICE expansion, rankling local law enforcementIN THE SPOTLIGHT As the Trump administration positions ICE as the primary federal police force, its recruitment efforts have been met with a less-than-enthusiastic response
-
The return of 'Wednesday,' an 'Alien' prequel and a dramatic retelling of the Amanda Knox trial all happening in August TVthe week recommends This month's new television releases include 'Alien: Earth,' 'The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox' and a new season of 'Wednesday'
-
How does a 401(k) hardship withdrawal work and is it smart to take one?the explainer More Americans than ever are resorting to this option in a pinch
-
DHS preps for major ICE expansion, rankling local law enforcement
IN THE SPOTLIGHT As the Trump administration positions ICE as the primary federal police force, its recruitment efforts have been met with a less-than-enthusiastic response
-
JD Vance rises as MAGA heir apparentIN THE SPOTLIGHT The vice president is taking an increasingly proactive role in a MAGA movement roiled by scandal and anxious about a post-Trump future
-
Congress should 'step in' to block Trump's White House ballroom makeoverInstant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump's global tariffs take effect, with new additionsSpeed Read Tariffs on more than 90 US trading partners went into effect, escalating the global trade war
-
Eighty years after Hiroshima: how close is nuclear conflict?Today's Big Question Eight decades on from the first atomic bomb 'we have blundered into a new age of nuclear perils'
-
Epstein: A boon for Democrats?Feature Democrats' push to release the Epstein files splits the GOP, sending the House into an early summer recess
-
India rejects Trump threat over Russian oilSpeed Read The president said he would raise tariffs on India for buying and selling Russian oil
-
Tariffs: Is Trump winning his trade war?Feature Trump secures a new trade deal as Europe agrees to 15% tariffs
