An investigation initiated last month by the New York attorney general into Donald Trump's foundation has ended with the Trump Foundation being found in violation of the law. One of the recent reports on the Trump Foundation alleged Trump used $258,000 of the foundation's money to settle legal issues.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman ordered the Trump Foundation to stop fundraising money immediately. In a "notice of violation" released from Schneiderman's office Friday it said the Trump Foundation: "is in violation of section 172 of Article 7-A New York's Executive Law, which requires charitable organizations that solicit contributions in New York State to register with the Charities Bureau and to provide annual financial reports and annual audited financial statements."
The notice added, "The failure immediately to discontinue solicitation and to file information and reports required under Article 7-A with the Charities Bureau shall be deemed to be a continuing fraud upon the people of the state of New York."
Schneiderman launched the investigation into the Trump Foundation after reports from the Washington Post, which among other things, reported Trump once used $20,000 of charity money to buy a portrait of himself. One of the previously mentioned legal issues the Washington Post reported Trump settled with foundation money included a $120,000 fine Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club faced over the size of a flagpole. The fine was settled after Trump said he'd donate $100,000 to a charity for veterans.
Trump's campaign spokesperson Hope Hicks released a statement in response to the notice of violation saying, "While we remain very concerned about the political motives behind AG Schneiderman's investigation, the Trump Foundation nevertheless intends to cooperate fully with the investigation." Hicks added, "Because this is an ongoing legal matter, the Trump Foundation will not comment further at this time."
