Rejecting the immunity defense put forth by President Donald Trump’s lawyers, a New York state judge on Friday ruled that a lawsuit accusing Trump and members of his family of using their “charitable” foundation as nothing more than a personal “piggy bank” can proceed.
Filed in June by New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood, the suit alleges that Trump engaged in “persistently illegal conduct” by using the Trump Foundation as a vehicle to advance his political and business aims. The lawsuit seeks to dissolve the Trump Foundation entirely.
“The Trump Foundation functioned as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests. There are rules that govern private foundations, and we intend to enforce them—no matter who runs the foundation,” Underwood wrote in a tweet on Friday.
#BREAKING: The New York State Supreme Court just denied the motion to dismiss our lawsuit against the Trump Foundation and its directors: @realDonaldTrump, Donald J. Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump. https://t.co/rYj2I76d22 pic.twitter.com/8wJvy17Gsx
— NY AG Underwood (@NewYorkStateAG) November 23, 2018
The Trump Foundation functioned as little more than a checkbook to serve Mr. Trump’s business and political interests. There are rules that govern private foundations, and we intend to enforce them—no matter who runs the foundation.
— NY AG Underwood (@NewYorkStateAG) November 23, 2018
New York’s lawsuit is the product of a two-year investigation into the Trump Foundation, which allegedly uncovered widespread and “knowing” violations of campaign finance laws and other regulations.
Though Trump’s lawyers argued that a “sitting president may not be sued,” but New York state Supreme Court Justice Saliann Scarpulla ruled on Friday that the president’s legal team “failed to cite a single case” supporting its defense.
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4 Comments on "Rejecting Claim of Presidential Immunity, Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Trump Foundation to Proceed"
Suppose to be so damn rich, yet they continue to be the family of grifters. LOCK THEM UP!!!
but but Clinton pfffft! lock em up is right and as soon as we can!
I hope the City of New York will be able to fine all of them to the hilt. They deserve to loose all their money hose corrupt Trumps. Lock them all up.
I envision a reality show in 2020 or so…”The Big House – Trump Family Style” sponsored by the RNCC.