Donald Trump’s crumbling foundation
Donald J. Trump, insistent on NFL players standing and saluting the flag and paying homage to our nation, has done two things in the last few days that are as patriotic as, well, they are not- 1) he saluted a North Korean general and 2) he has again (daily) blasted law enforcement for daring to go after him and his family. On Thursday morning, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood sued Trump and his charitable foundation, alleging that he and his adult children illegally used the private foundation to address their personal, business, and political expenses. The lawsuit alleges:
“Extensive unlawful political coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing transactions to benefit Mr. Trump’s personal and business interests, and violations of basic legal obligations for non-profit foundations.”
Attorney General Underwood noted in a statement: “As our investigation reveals, the Trump Foundation was little more than a checkbook for payments from Mr. Trump or his businesses to nonprofits, regardless of their purpose or legality. This is not how private foundations should function and my office intends to hold the Foundation and its directors accountable for its misuse of charitable assets.”
The suit seeks to dissolve the foundation and seeks restitution of $2.8 million, plus additional penalties. Trump tweeted in reaction: “The sleazy New York Democrats, and their now disgraced (and run out of town) A.G. Eric Schneiderman, are doing everything they can to sue me on a foundation that took in $18,800,000 and gave out to charity more money than it took in, $19,200,000. I won’t settle this case!… …. Schneiderman, who ran the Clinton campaign in New York, never had the guts to bring this ridiculous case, which lingered in their office for almost 2 years. Now he resigned his office in disgrace, and his disciples brought it when we would not settle.”
Trump, per his norm, when faced with additional legal issues, attacks the law enforcement officers at all levels of government, trying to undermine credibility. And his Republican colleagues join in. Now that the Inspector General report is out that finds nothing of substance in terms of the DOJ or FBI, Republican Congressmen are spinning out of control trying to create conspiracies. But soon they will realize this: their leader, the one they chose, the one they have blindly followed, is a man who has been involved in many sleazy dealings and that is how he functions. While he fumes, we are confident law enforcement officers continue to silently do their work, and there is more to come. Happy Flag Day and Happy Birthday, Mr. Trump – stand ramrod straight and salute the flag and the institutions that protect it, including law enforcement.
Daniel is a lawyer writing and teaching about SCOTUS, and is the author of the book “The Chief Justices” about the SCOTUS as seen through the center seat.