Donald Trump foundation sued by New York
State attorney general says the foundation is ‘little more than a chequebook’

The New York attorney general has filed a lawsuit against the Donald J Trump charitable foundation, as well as Donald Trump himself and three of his children, claiming he violated state charity and federal election laws.
It alleges that “the Trumps used charitable assets as ‘little more than a chequebook for payments to not-for-profits from Mr Trump’ and his companies”, The Guardian reports.
Other allegations include the claim that Trump Foundation funds and assets were used to pay for a painting of Donald Trump to be hung at one of his golf clubs, and that other assets were used to settle legal claims against another of Trump’s clubs.
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.
“The foundation is little more than an empty shell that functions with no oversight from its board of directors,” the lawsuit alleges. “Trump ran the foundation according to whim, rather than law.”
Barbara Underwood, the state attorney general, is “asking a court to dissolve the Trump Foundation and wants $2.8 million in restitution, plus additional penalties”, CNN reports.
The lawsuit is also seeking to ban Trump from serving as a director of any New York not-for-profit for ten years, and a one-year ban for Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump.
The president has dismissed the claims made in the lawsuit as the work of “sleazy New York Democrats”, and has vowed not to pay the restitution or settle the lawsuit out of court.
But the New York attorney general has “significant investigatory and prosecutorial power”, says the BBC. “There’s no telling what she might turn up” if she begins looking deeper into Trump’s “more questionable charitable activities”.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
June 22 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include a SpaceX flight, Bibi pulling Donald Trump toward war, and an ICE agent looking like a bank robber
-
5 bunker-busting cartoons about the Israel-Iran war
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on Iran waiting for Pete Hegseth to leak war plans and Donald Trump's wish for a Nobel prize
-
Malaysia's delicious food and glorious beaches
The Week Recommends From 'colourful' George Town to the 'jungled interior' of Langkawi, Malaysia is incredibly diverse
-
Is the US sliding into autocracy?
Talking Point Donald Trump's use of federal troops on home ground, dismissal of dissent and 'braggadocious' military posturing are all symptoms of a shifting political culture
-
Court allows National Guard in LA as Dodgers repel feds
Speed Read The team said they 'denied entry' to ICE agents seeking to enter their stadium
-
'Is it even possible to enjoy a trip without contributing to the problem?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump ramps up Iran threats, demands 'surrender'
Speed Read Trump met with his top aides in the Situation Room on Tuesday
-
Travel ban: It's back and it's bigger
Feature Trump revives a controversial travel ban, targeting mostly poor, nonwhite countries
-
'Big Oil does not accept responsibility'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
ABA sues Trump over 'law firm intimidation policy'
Speed Read Trump has 'used the vast powers of the executive branch to coerce lawyers,' the lawsuit said
-
Judge orders Trump's NIH grant cuts reversed
Speed Read Trump had attempted to slash more than $1 billion in research grants