In a cease-and-desist notice, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has asserted that Donald Trump’s charitable foundation is breaking the law and ordered the Trump Foundation to stop fundraising in the state.
The notice was sent to the Trump Foundation on Friday, after a state investigation found that his charity allegedly lacked proper certification.
James G. Sheehan, the head of the New York attorney general’s charities bureau, wrote that the Trump Foundation “shall be deemed to be a continuing fraud upon the people of the state of New York” if the organization fails to immediately “discontinue solicitation and to file information and reports” within “15 days of this notice.”
The Trump Foundation never registered under article 7-A of New York’s executive law — which is required for any charity soliciting more than $25,000 a year in New York state, as The Washington Post first reported.
The Trump campaign said in a statement it will cooperate with the investigation but claimed political motives behind the move.
“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,” the statement read.
“Because this is an ongoing legal matter, the Trump Foundation will not comment further at this time.”
(AP)