In a significant legal outcome, Donald J. Trump was compelled to pay over $2 million in court-ordered damages to eight reputable charities. This action followed the illegal misuse of funds from the Trump Foundation for political purposes. New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement highlighting the repercussions of this misconduct.
“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,” stated Attorney General James. “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.” She further emphasized that the funds are now directed “where they deserve — to eight credible charities,” underscoring the commitment of her office to uphold accountability, asserting that “no one is above the law — not a businessman, not a candidate for office, and not even the president of the United States.”
Court Mandates Trump to Compensate Charities
As a consequence of the settlement announced on November 7th, a court order mandated Trump to pay a total of $2 million. This sum was divided into eight payments of $250,000 each, allocated to the following charities:
- Army Emergency Relief
- Children’s Aid Society
- Citymeals-on-Wheels
- Give an Hour
- Martha’s Table
- United Negro College Fund
- United Way of National Capital Area
- U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
Furthermore, Trump was directed to reimburse the Trump Foundation $11,525. This reimbursement covered expenses related to sports memorabilia and champagne purchased during a charity gala. This amount was added to the existing $1,797,598.30 in the foundation’s bank account. The cumulative sum of $1,809,123.30 was then evenly distributed among the eight designated charities, resulting in each charity receiving $476,140.41.
Admissions of Misuse and Restrictions on Future Charity Work
Beyond financial penalties, the settlement required Trump to acknowledge 19 admissions of personal misuse of funds within the Trump Foundation. These admissions underscored the extent of the misconduct and served as a formal acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
In addition to admissions, the settlement imposed restrictions on Trump’s future engagement with charitable organizations. He also agreed to ongoing reporting to the Office of the Attorney General should he establish a new charity. These measures aim to prevent similar issues from arising in any future charitable endeavors.
Training for Trump Children and Foundation Closure
The settlement also mandated training for Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump. These mandatory training requirements have been completed by all three children, ensuring a degree of accountability extended to those involved in the foundation’s operations.
Ultimately, the Trump Foundation was compelled to close its doors in December of the previous year. The dissolution process was conducted under court supervision, ensuring a transparent and legally compliant conclusion to the organization’s operations. This marked the definitive end of the Trump Foundation in light of the established misconduct.
