New York’s Attorney General Investigating Eric Trump’s Foundation
"... not only shameful, but ... truly disgusting."
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who is already investigating the Eric Trump Foundation, is now reviewing published allegations that money ostensibly raised for St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital was paid out to several Trump Organization golf courses.
Forbes reported Tuesday that $100,000 in donations meant for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital went to the Donald J. Trump Foundation.
The report claimed that according to IRS documents, the Eric Trump Foundation in 2012 spent $59,085 on its annual Golf Invitational fundraiser at the Trump National Golf Club in Westchester County, N.Y. Those expenses reached $230,080 in 2013 and to $242,294 in 2014, Forbes reported.
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The IRS reports do not show how much money went to the Donald J. Trump Foundation or other Trump affiliates. Forbes reported that costs increased when the Trump Organization began charging for the use of its courses.
“I can confirm that our office is looking into issues at the Eric Trump Foundation raised by the Forbes report,” said Eric Soufer, the attorney general’s director of communications.
The Eric Trump Foundation issued a statement in response to the allegations.
“During the past decade, the Eric Trump Foundation has raised over $16.3 million for St. Jude Children’s Research hospital while maintaining an expense ratio of just 12.3 percent,” the statement said.
As reported by Western Journalism, the hospital issued a letter in January confirming the amount donated by Eric Trump’s foundation.
“The Eric Trump Foundation was also responsible for building a $20 million dollar ICU which treats the sickest children anywhere in the world suffering from the most catastrophic terminal illnesses,” the statement added.
“Contrary to recent reports, at no time did the Trump Organization profit in any way from the foundation or any of its activities. While people can disagree on political issues, to infer malicious intent on a charity that has changed so many lives is not only shameful, but is truly disgusting. At the end of the day, the only people who lose are the children of St. Jude and other incredibly worthy causes,” the statement said.
“The foundation intends to cooperate fully with the attorney general’s review, and looks forward to a productive and open dialogue with the attorney general’s office to address any questions it may have,” it added in a separate statement
Schneiderman, a critic of President Donald Trump, has launched a number of investigations into the activities of various Trump family foundations based in New York State. Late last year, Eric Trump said he would shutter his foundation, but Schneiderman said that could not be done until his office completed an investigation into its activities.
Eric Trump stopped all direct fundraising efforts of the charity in the wake of his father’s election.
A statement on the charity’s website stated that “the foundation is being restructured and renamed, and under new leadership, it will continue its mission to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the fight against pediatric cancer.”
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