Photo: Alex Edelman/Pool/Getty
PresidentDonald Trump‘s titular foundation is dissolving amid legal action.
“Our petition detailed a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Trump Foundation – including unlawful coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing, and much more,” Underwood said in the press release. “This amounted to the Trump Foundation functioning as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests.”
In December 2016,The New York Timesreported that Trumpplanned to close the foundationto avoid a conflict of interest.
Alan S. Futerfas, an attorney for the foundation, told PEOPLE in a statement, “Contrary to the NYAG’s misleading statement issued earlier today, the Foundation has been seeking to dissolve and distribute its remaining assets to worthwhile charitable causes since Donald J. Trump’s victory in the 2016 Presidential election.”
In June, Underwoodsued Trump, three of his children(Donald Trump Jr.,Ivanka TrumpandEric Trump) and their foundation for allegedly engaging in “persistent illegal conduct,” according to apress release at the time.
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The lawsuit is continuing even as the foundation dissolves. The lawsuit attempts to prevent Trump, Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric from holding positions on the boards of any New York charity.
“This is an important victory for the rule of law, making clear that there is one set of rules for everyone,” Underwood said. “We’ll continue to move our suit forward to ensure that the Trump Foundation and its directors are held to account for their clear and repeated violations of state and federal law.”
In September 2016, Underwood’s predecessor Eric Schneidermanstarted an investigation into the foundation. That same month,The Washington Postreported that Trump had allegedly used $258,000 from the foundation to settle his businesses’ lawsuits.
source: people.com
