By David A. Graham, TheAtlantic.com – The problem with telling people to follow the money is they just might take you up on it. Donald Trump’s campaign has adopted that mantra in reference to the Clinton Foundation, but it applies to him in uncomfortable ways, too.
On Friday, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman sent a letter to the Donald J. Trump Foundation, instructing it that its fundraising was in violation of the law and that it must stop immediately. Last week, The Washington Post reported that the foundation did not have the requisite permission and oversight to raise more than $25,000. Despite lacking the legal right to do so, the charity has brought in millions of dollars in donations over the years.
In a statement, Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks questioned the motives of Schneiderman, a Democrat, but said the foundation would cease fundraising.
The Post’s David Fahrenthold has published a series of damaging stories about the foundation. Despite bearing Trump’s name, the foundation has largely been run using other people’s money for about a decade now, as it draws donations from other givers, then donates them under Trump’s name. Earlier this year, the foundation raised a reported $1.67 million for veterans’ causes. Donald Trump has reportedly used Trump Foundation donations to settle legal issues involving himself, as well as to buy gifts that he may have kept. Both of those would violate rules that ban “self-dealing” by charities. In addition, there are cases where Trump directed income to the foundation, but it’s not clear that he paid income taxes on those monies, as required.
Other Trump scandals discussed in the article include:
The Four Bankruptcies, Where and when: 1991, 1992, 2004, 2009
Refusing to Pay Workers and Contractors, Where and when: various, 1980s-present
The Beauty Pageant Scandals, Where and when: Various, 1992-present
The Trump Foundation, Where and when: Various, 1988-present
Racial Housing Discrimination, Where and when: New York City, 1973-1975
Trump University, Where and when: 2005-2010, online
Trump Institute, Where and when: Boca Raton and elsewhere, 2005-?
Tenant Intimidation, Where and when: New York City, 1982-1986
The Undocumented Polish Workers, Where and when: New York City, 1980
Alleged Marital Rape, Where and when: New York City, 1989
Breaking Casino Rules, Where and when: New York and New Jersey, various
The Cuban Embargo, Where and when: Cuba, 1998-present
Antitrust Violations, Where and when: New Jersey, 1986
Condo Hotel Shenanigans, Where and when: New York, Florida, Mexico, mid-2000s
Read the full article at theatlantic.com.
