- President Donald Trump must pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that he and his children misused the Trump Foundation for personal gain, a judge ruled.
- The lawsuit, filed by the New York Attorney General’s office, alleged that the Trump Foundation improperly used charitable assets to influence the 2016 presidential primaries.
- Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement that Trump will be “subject to ongoing supervision” by her office and that Trump’s children have already undergone “compulsory training to ensure this type of illegal activity never takes place again.”
- Trump previously said he wouldn’t settle the case.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
President Donald Trump must pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit alleging that the Trump Foundation engaged in “persistently illegal conduct” for years to benefit politically and financially, a judge ordered Thursday.
The lawsuit, filed by the New York Attorney General’s office, alleged that the Trump Foundation improperly used charitable assets to influence the 2016 presidential primaries.
The suit was filed after the Trump Foundation hosted a televised fundraiser for veterans during Trump’s 2016 campaign, raising $3 million in donations which were dispersed by Trump’s former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.
The lawsuit alleged that the foundation hosted such events and solicited charitable contributions to help bolster Trump’s reputation as a philanthropist and influence the 2016 election.
According to the terms of the settlement, Trump has admitted to "personally misusing funds at the Trump Foundation" and has agreed to restrictions on future charitable giving.
Trump and his children Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr. dissolved the charity last year.
Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement that Trump will be "subject to ongoing supervision" by her office and that Trump's children have already undergone "compulsory training to ensure this type of illegal activity never takes place again."
"The court's decision, together with the settlements we negotiated, are a major victory in our efforts to protect charitable assets and hold accountable those who would abuse charities for personal gain," James said. "My office will continue to fight for accountability because no one is above the law - not a businessman, not a candidate for office, and not even the President of the United States."
Trump had previously tweeted that he wouldn't settle the case.
Grace Panetta contributed reporting.
- Read more:
- Michael Cohen says Trump had him find a fake bidder for his portrait so that it would sell for more than any other at a charity auction - and then repaid the bidder from Trump Foundation coffers
- Trump and his adult children agree to dissolve the Trump Foundation charity amid a lawsuit alleging 'persistently illegal conduct'
- New York state could soon launch wide-ranging investigations of Trump's finances and business deals, which experts say verges into legally uncharted territory
- Report: The Trumps funneled thousands in donations to a kids-cancer charity into the Trump Organization
