New York’s attorney general has ordered the Donald J. Trump Foundation to stop fundraising in New York state because it does not have a license to do so.
Eric Schneiderman sent the Trump Foundation a “Notice of Violation” on Friday, directing the foundation to “cease and desist” soliciting donations.
The foundation has been under heavy scrutiny following, among other things, a report that it funneled $250,000 to settle legal disputes, according to the Washington Post. It also spent funds on purchases like a portrait of Donald Trump himself.
Earlier this year, the IRS fined Trump for using his charity to donate $25,000 to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi while her office was looking into the now-defunct Trump University, which currently faces a lawsuit from Schneiderman’s office. Both Bondi and Trump have denied any wrongdoing.
According to the notice, the foundation has 15 days to file the appropriate paperwork. It also has to file past “delinquent reports” within that same time frame.
Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks told TheWrap: “While we remain very concerned about the political motives behind AG Schneiderman’s investigation, the Trump Foundation nevertheless intends to cooperate fully with the investigation. Because this is an ongoing legal matter, the Trump Foundation will not comment further at this time.”
Mr. Schneiderman, a Democrat, is a supporter of Hillary Clinton.
Read the press release below and the notice of violation here.
“On Friday, September 30, the Office of New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman issued a Notice of Violation to the Donald J. Trump Foundation (“Trump Foundation”) and directed the entity to cease and desist from soliciting contributions in New York.
The notice states that the Trump Foundation “is in violation of section 172 of Article 7-A New York’s Executive Law, which requires charitable organizations that solicit contributions in New York State to register with the Charities Bureau and to provide annual financial reports and annual audited financial statements.” Despite failing to register pursuant to Article 7-A, the Trump Foundation solicited contributions in New York State earlier this year, in violation of New York law.
The notice directs the Trump Foundation to “immediately cease soliciting contributions or engaging in other fundraising activities in New York” and “to provide the [AG’s] Charities Bureau with the information specified in Section 172 within fifteen (15) days” of receiving the notice.”