December 11th 2019

By Oliver Willis

American Independent

Donald Trump personally paid out $2 million in damages this week in relation to his now-defunct charity, the Trump Foundation, after being ordered to do so by a New York state judge last month.

The order was the culmination of lawsuit filed against him by the state of New York in June 2018, which Trump settled in November.

Trump was accused of misusing funds donated to the charity for his personal benefit.

“Not only has the Trump Foundation shut down for its misconduct, but the president has been forced to pay $2 million for misusing charitable funds for his own political gain,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement released on Tuesday.

“Charities are not a means to an end, which is why these damages speak to the president’s abuse of power and represent a victory for not-for-profits that follow the law.”

The $2 million payout was divided among 8 different charities who received $250,000 each.

Trump also had to reimburse the Trump Foundation $11,525 after he used the charity’s accounts to pay for sports paraphernalia and champagne at a charity gala.

He was accused of using the now-shuttered charity as his personal piggy bank, siphoning funds to purchase items such as paintings of himself that were displayed in his resorts, as well as paying off legal settlements for his clubs to the tune of $258,000.

Trump also used the foundation to host a campaign event billed as a benefit for veterans charities ahead of the Iowa caucus in 2016.

As part of last month’s settlement, Trump agreed to restrictions on his future charitable service and consented to ongoing reporting to the Attorney General’s office if he chooses to create a new charity.

His children, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump, were also part of the operation and have had to undergo mandatory training on charitable affairs.

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