New York Daily News

‘Charitable’ Don coughs up $2 million

- BY DAVE GOLDINER

President Trump has forked over $2 million to actual charities to settle New York State’s lawsuit accusing his Trump Foundation of self-dealing and politicall­y charged misdeeds.

The eight real charities also divvied up $1.8 million in remaining assets of the Trump Foundation, including $11,000 that Trump had to pay to the foundation to cover bogus expenses it paid him for champagne and sports memorabili­a.

State Attorney General Letitia James announced Tuesday that Trump had made good on the payment to the charities, which was the last outstandin­g term of a settlement agreement with her office.

“These damages speak to the president’s abuse of power and represent a victory for not-for-profits that follow the law,” James said. “Funds have finally gone where they deserve — to eight credible charities.”

The lawsuit accused Trump — along with his children Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric — of using the Trump Foundation to boost his presidenti­al campaign and as a virtual piggy bank to benefit his other businesses.

Trump’s campaign staff was allowed to run a foundation fund-raiser for veterans on the eve of the 2016 Iowa caucuses, and the foundation paid thousands in expenses for Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., and other Trump properties.

The Trump Foundation was registered in New York, which bars charities from participat­ing in political events.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Saliann Scarpulla ordered Trump to cough up the $2 million last month after he reached a deal to dissolve the foundation. He admitted misusing charity funds and agreed to stay out of charity work.

The charities scored a total of nearly $500,000 each. They include Army Emergency Relief, the Children’s Aid Society, Citymeals on Wheels, Give an Hour, Martha’s Table, the United Negro College Fund, the United Way of the National Capital Area, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

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