State opens tax probe of Trump charity

ALBANY – The state Tax Department has opened an investigation into whether President Trump and his charitable foundation violated state law, two Cuomo administration officials confirmed Wednesday night.

The probe, which has been ongoing for more than a month, is looking into whether the Donald J. Trump Foundation – and Trump himself – violated state law by transferring assets or making certain misrepresentations to the state with respect to tax liability and tax assignment, the officials said.

“Gov. Cuomo believes there is one set of rules for everyone – no matter who you are or how much power you have,” one Cuomo aide said. “This matter will be investigated to the fullest possible extent, and if appropriate, referred for criminal prosecution.”

Word of the investigation surfaced hours after Cuomo counsel Alphonso David said the governor would be willing to give the attorney general’s office a referral to launch a criminal probe into President Trump’s charitable foundation – if the AG wants it.

It also came a month after state Attorney General Barbara Underwood filed a bombshell civil lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court accusing the commander-in-chief and his three oldest children of operating a bogus namesake charity “in persistent violation” of federal and state laws for more than a decade.