From I read about Trump committing fraud, whether it be connected with this fraudulent "university" or his fraudulent "charity", he admits guilt and pays fines -- but I don't see anything about prison time! Is it a matter of lack of reporting? I don't even see anything suggesting that a judicial hearing will be held later, after he leaves office, to assign jail time. If any of the rest of us had been convicted of fraud as Tump has, I somehow doubt the government prosecution would shake hands with us afterwards and say, "That's ok, Joe Smith, admit your guilt and pay back the people you defrauded millions of dollars from-- and we'll let it go at that. No significant fine and -- especially -- no jail time." I've read of lots of people (mostly blacks) getting plenty of jail time for mere shoplifting. Where is the justice in that, compared to Trump?
130
We are at the end of the beginning of Trump's impeachment process. His personal piggy bank within his Foundation is him "incarnate".
NYTimes, please cease and desist from using "Quid Pro Quo" terminology. Instead, use Article II, Sec. 4 of the US Constitution all the time so people understand clearly what he has done in the Ukraine: "The President .....,shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, BRIBERY, or Other High Crimes and Misdemeanors."
99
Trump has waived his $400,000 per year salary as president and obviously forgone any ability to earn money in the private sector since his election as president. He certainly is far from perfect but Trump is a complex human being, like the rest of us. Let's see him in perspective.
24
@Alex I’ve seen enough perspective to know he is what he’s always been, a vulgar fraud.
409
Trump has shown a poor understanding of the economics of new (to him) market places. He expected huge benefits to his brands from the run for the presidency, and didn't expect to win. Forgoing salary was supposed to be offset be profits at his properties and other businesses. He is now playing a long game to leverage international alliances with Russia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and others to benefit his family directly, and his businesses, into the future. His "paltry" salary pales in comparison.
262
The last four years haven’t provided enough perspective for you?
378
The Trump “charity”, Trump “University”, unpaid contractors from his bankrupt businesses, bribery of the president of Ukraine, etc., etc. The moral rot of Trump, his family and his administration seems limitless. And those who support him for re-election condone this?? Shame on all of you!
97
Huh. Try as I might I couldn't find 1 commentary that supported Trump on this issue. C'mon all you enablers, try and justify scamming our veterans. Come on, give us your rationalization. You can't even call it fake news.
102
How did the Clintons and their foundation become so rich after supposedly leaving the WH broke?
4
Once a grifter, always a grifter.
64
Hey dnc, this needs to be in ads in every red state.
64
And then there is the Clinton Foundation. Nothing to see here folks; move along.
4
First, you take Caligula. Then you take Dan Quayle.
From them, you create a unique hybrid.
His name is Donald J. Trump.
43
I don't think I've ever heard of or come to know a more slimey human than Donald Trump.
Have you ever known anyone like him?
Here's the problem:
An infant will mess its diaper with such regularity that one habituates to the odor and the need to change it.
As the Geico commercials say: "It's just what babies do!"
Now, with Trump, his lying and scamming and shameless narcissism is like that baby making a regular mess. One mess runs into the next. So, the public can't really grab onto one. It's all a daily blur. Any of his transgressions would shame and sink another president but Donald keeps 'em coming each day.
We've habituated.
Here's the answer:
Pick one of his crimes and harp on it.
Issolate one particularly odious, out of line, "I can't believe he did that" transgression and milk it.
Just one.
Hmmm, so many to choose from!
I like Trump University for its flat-out slimey, inhuman, fraudulent nature.
Who would start a phony "University" designed to cheat people?
Would your dentist or auto mechanic do that?
Heck no!
It's illegal to defraud people!
But Donald did it.
Pick at that scab and focus the public mind on that. Talk about it and don't stop.
Tie the fraud around his neck so it's all one thinks about when they see him.
Wife cheating would be another scab to pick. Especially only months after the birth of his son!
This charity stuff too.
Pick ONE crime and focus on it.
Endlessly.
Otherwise it's just dirty diapers each day with no effect
71
Love to hear all the evangelical pastors' sermons justifying this one!!! I guess Jesus was a grifter too.
63
Hail to the Thief!
67
A fake charity is the perfect sum-up of this fake President and terrible human being.
65
Question for the New York Times:
Trump has this scam...er...charity up and running for years, before he became president, why didn’t the venerable New York Times expose it for the sham it was years ago?! And certainly why didn’t the NYT expose Trump and his long history of fraud, grifting and scams back in ...2016?!!!
Donald J Trump and his family are no different than the Mafia!
43
Two words for you, DUMP TRUMP !
42
I did not vote for Donald Trump.
Nor did I vote for Barrack "Dont Call Me Barry" Obama
Nor did I vote for W "Spawn of Bush" Bush.
Nor did I vote for Slick Willy Clinton.
Nor did I vote GHW "Milktoast" Bush.
....
Every single one of these men have proven to be sub-standard leaders of America......as I had already concluded they would be .... as I voted for the only realistic leader relegated to the 3rd Party.
The rest of you understood this,,,,but lacked courage, backbone, guts.....to vote your conscience. You voted out of Fear.
...
And despite 30 years of incredibly poor leadership,,,,,we survive...and prosper. All of these men have been my President.....and I never, ever, ever once ever thought any of them needed to be impeached.
....
I suggest all of you stop the mealy mouthing,,,,just suck it up,,,,,be an American.......endure......stop allowing the DNC and the Bush Minions to manipulate you through Fear.
...
Send the right message.....do NOT impeach.
We'lll get our chance to set things right on Nov 1,2020.
....
Hang in there Mr. Trump.....you're doing fine.
2
For such a self declared smartest guy we all know he doesn't know enough to stop protesting so much. He's a chattering idiot. It must be the meds that hypes him up. And what a shame people who barely eke out a living believe him and not only that reach out in sympathy for him. Pathetic. Is it true that when you enter Trump Tower the song Why's Everybody always Picking On Me is played. Appropriately sung by the Bloodhound Gang.
27
Even when he is fined it seems that nothing happens to Trump when he is caught . He's still in office and still free to screw up again.
36
This morally corrupt man likes saying he cares for us veterans. No he does not. His only concern is himself and many a bit for these kids.
As a veteran he sickens me to the core of the honor I have for serving in the military as well as being a retired federal employee. I have lost respect for the office of the president as he has tarnished it beyond what I never thought I would see in my lifetime. I served when Nixon was president, at least he had some honor to resign. There is not way this guy would do that. Damn him.
64
A welcome start.
Go SDNY, show him more accountability — even if you have to follow him to Florida.
30
Trump cuts through our laws like a hot knife through butter. Apparently nothing will stop him except steel bars.
Even then his acolytes will attempt to break him out of jail in an effort to politically resurrect him.
From the Other Side, Napoleon must be watching with intense interest.
23
Keep it moving, nothing to see here...said all hardcore Trump supporters.
22
I made a big mistake not enrolling in Trump University while it was still active. Imagine the skills I could have acquired in defrauding the public, ripping off veterans and lying without the least regret. We need leaders like Mr, Trump to serve as outstanding role models to us all.
God save the American con artist.
32
I simply cannot stand this man and his family. Is there anything he does that is legal and ethical??? Anything at all???
54
Trump steals just to steal.
Because he can.
27
Trump conned, cheated and stole from needy veterans. He abused their misery to line his pockets.
This is a simple, straightforward story that the public can quickly grasp. The Democrats should be making Trump's, and by extension his Republican Party's, contempt and disrespect for veterans front page news.
They won't.
27
Mr. Trump is a real predatory capitalist. He is also the face of the Republican party.
31
THIS is the story that would actually make some Trump supporters reconsider. Democrat's should be repeating over and over...."Trump is a FRAUD.
Trump created a criminal charity foundation and kept the money for HIMSELF."
But the story got lost in the complicated impeachment details and the New York billionaire filing to enter the race...and Trump will get away with doing another terrible thing.
23
Trump is absolutely brazen in his defiance of societal laws, institutions, norms, ethics and morality. And yet here he is, still president, about to sail through an impeachment process essentially exonerated by a corrupt and dysfunctional Republican Senate, and quite possibly headed for a second term.
Why are we letting this malignant megalomaniac roll over us like this? Why?
23
Since most people get their news and views from their own politically biased media, how can you alarm Trump’s mob about his immoral behaviors? Trump’s Twitter and Fox spin the news, so how do you publicly shame the shameless?
19
President Trump is not qualified to run a charity...but he is running our country!
27
For a person to raise funds for veterans, use them for his own political purposes, backtrack when caught red-handed -- and then "lead" a Veteran's Day parade is so sick that it defies comprehension. How can any human being live not only without any shred of decency but be allowed to occupy public office?
The so-called Republican Party foisted this fraud on the nation and every so-called Republican politician will -- and should -- pay the price for generations.
I'm so sick of the nation -- and the world -- being dragged through the muck of this sickening individual's depravity.
30
If Democrats had demonstrated a fraction of their current outrage at the similar Clinton Foundation shenanigans, the country might buy in.
2
The Abominable Showman’s minions need to see him rob a Girl Scout at gunpoint to get the message across that he is and always was a crook and a huckster. Repetition hasn’t been effective so far. Blunter tools are needed.
12
What a repellent scandal--a political leader solicits charity for veterans and then uses the funds collected for his own interests! And what a perfect--if hugely dismaying--example of how Trump's ceaseless profusion of fraudulent and hypocritical behavior has so debased the nation's moral expectations. This kind of scandal would likely HAVE RUINED the political career of anyone not that long ago. It will just be another clump in a stream of sewage overflow whose putrid smell will remain undetected by Trump's hardened supporters.
15
Good luck with collecting on the settlement - "Little Hands" Donnie never pays ANYBODY!!!
12
“I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr. Trump’s illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience. I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is. He is a racist. He is a con man. He is a cheat.”
— Michael Cohen
testimony before House Oversight Committee
Nothing has changed. His supporters don’t care. Trump is just irritated he got caught.
430
Oh, to dream that he be required to admit this at the Veterans' Day Parade on 11/12.
12
The reason that a charlatan, a narcissist, a crook, and a pathological liar all rolled into one can actually be a sitting President has more to do with the apathy of the American people and their lack of understanding of the consequences that can come from having such a monster in the highest office in the land .
For the rest of the country that actually has their eyes open it would be a great idea to have a petition written and signed by Intelligence community officials, Pentagon officials, State Department officials and civil servants in the diplomatic corps explaining on a full page ad in the New York Times why Donald Trump is such a serious danger to our national security, and to the well being of the country as a whole. That would back up the editorial boards claims week after week. People get tired of hearing the same thing over and over again even if it is actually true; hearing it in a slightly different way will light the right kind of fire under precisely the right part of the anatomy.
10
Why doesn't fraud for rich people lead to jail time? This is why people are angry in this country. A justice system that only punishes the poor and the brown.
24
I protest. Donald Trump is not being held responsible for his actions. He is paying a measly $2 million of his immense wealth for a crime that should had landed him in jail. This would be enough to derail the administration of any normal president; it would lead to articles of impeachment; but in Trump’s case it is merely a footnote, the least of his perfidy.
23
When it comes to manipulation and abuse of a charitable foundation, the Clinton's make Trump look like an amateur.
Here is a small sample of what can be dug up about the Clinton Foundation:
Longtime HRC "gatekeeper" Huma Abedin, was employed simultaneously by the State Department, the Clinton foundation, Clinton's personal office, and a private consulting firm with ties to the Clintons, for a six month period in 2012.
That's quite a Merry-go-Round. If the same kind of attention that is being paid to Trump's affairs, had been applied to the Clinton's operation, our federal prisons would be very overcrowded.
Note: Not defending Trump in any way - his lifetime of rotten behavior is well documented, and his presidency is a national disgrace. But it is important that HRC doesn't get to manipulate the 2020 Democratic convention, in an attempt to put herself on the Throne, becasue Trump would certainly, once again, beat her in the general election.
1
The tax-cheat-in-command seems to commit a new sin on a daily basis. $2 m is a drop-in-the-bucket for this man, but it is a start.
10
"Despite his admissions of misconduct, Mr. Trump made clear who he thought was the victim in the case — himself." He is like the poster boy for chutzpah, who murdered both his parents then claims to be a victim because now he is an orphan.
13
How about a follow up article to inform us when the fine is paid. I realize some of us may not survive that long but it would help resting in satisfaction that the system still works despite Trump and ilk. Not admitting my age only cognizant of Trump's past records. He not only withholds taxes but he also holds up payment of fines. Hey if he can get Deutsche banks fine cut to pocket change from the original 14 billion he can weasel out of 2 million.
10
In answer to DR who has a good question. Wouldn't it be nice if the court orders the fine be directed to the charity it was originally intended for and make Trump pay court costs. Why should the people of New York or any state pay for someones wrong.
11
"In addition, his three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward."
Does anyone believe that they will pay attention while in class?
34
Sure. There might be useful tips on how to cheat.
8
This sounds impeachable, but I suppose this will have to TAKE A NUMBER.
27
He held that Iowa rally instead of attending a GOP debate (in protest for being "treated very badly"). He boasted about raising $6 million for veterans (it was $2.8 million), then steered that money into his personal piggy bank.
He did this after his sham Trump University was exposed, and after the Washington Post exposed his sham foundation. The man could be leading police in a high speed chase and pull over to rob a bank while they're tailing him.
As his behavior following the Mueller testimony further proves (he extorted Ukraine the very next day), Trump will never stop breaking the law.
Voters must stop him. I can only hope our institutions will survive until November 2020.
34
You say Trump has been compelled to admit this fraud. I don't hear any admission of anything. Trump doesn't admit fault!
19
Trump characterizes the $2 million court imposed fine as "as happy to donate" to these fine charities. Does he intend to take a charitable deduction for this fine on his 2018 income tax return?
19
Trump should have set up his own church rather than a charitable foundation. Had he chosen to do that, there is nothing that the State of New York could have done. He'd have been free to spend the assets on whatever he wanted. All protected by the First Amendment.
8
Since the early 1900s, charity has been used to limit the public sector's role in ensuring basic human needs are met as rights and, in part, as an alternative to social democracy and socialism. It is one of the ways very rich people can gain some measure of public approval and tolerance. Doing good deeds with a portion of their vast wealth also gives the rich tax deductions for their donations which cost the public 40 - 50% of their charitable gifts because of the loss of tax revenues. Trump was not satisfied in gaining the good will and legal tax deductions acceptable by the public because he is a con man and criminal to his core. Perhaps the only good thing he has done re charity is to unintentionally raise some questions about the acceptable and legal practices of this form of tax evasion.
15
Given that the case for the impeachment and removal from office of one d. trump rests with the members of the U.S. congress, the problem, dear readers, is in the integrity, or the lack thereof, of the individuals whom the voters in the various voting districts elect. And so, the responsibility for the impeachment outcome really rests on the shoulders of each voter. What has the actual involvement of individual voters been so far in making one's ideas known to congressional members? How can a voter persuade? You do not have to wait until the primaries or Election Day. What's in your "Election Wallet"?
14
Trump uses veterans as a means to an end, just as he uses Christians. Until he got caught, that charity money was his.
Trump's supporters won't believe the court. They have been instructed not to believe what you see or hear. Only believe what Trump tells them. Trumpers are loyal sheep.
26
This kind of scandal would have brought down a legitimate presidency. But with Trump's stratospheric levels of corruption, it's just one more greasy spot in a long trail of slime. A quick summary:
Refusal to fully divest his personal business - while refusing to release his tax returns
Multiple emolument violations through his DC hotel and resorts
Repeatedly promoting his properties during his duties as president
Appointing unqualified close family members to government office
Self-dealing and fraud allegations around his inaugural committee
Publicly chastising a major retailer for dropping his daughter's product line
Promoting his son's book using an official POTUS Twitter account
Multiple instances of Trump-branded real estate used to launder money, mostly by Russians
A long family history of tax evasion
35
Classic case of money-laundering and fraud. There's a lot of speculation that Trump's tax returns will show this is just the tip of the iceberg. Because he's rich, Donald was able to buy his way out of it for a measly $2 million bucks. That's justice?
24
Timothy Egan has a column excoriating Dems for being too “woke.” That it would be good for us to sit down and truly get to know Trump’s followers, to understand them.
Well I can bet anything that not one of Trump’s acolytes would admit that DJT cheats Veterans and used his charity to benefit himself.
I’m sick of being the party who takes the time to learn what is going on in politics. Of knowing what is legal and not legal. It’s not my fault that Trumpinisitas care about no one but themselves...just like their leader.
33
The fine is $2 million. The "charity" took in $2.8 million. Where is the other $800,000 spent on the Trump campaign? Seem the judge cannot do math. Trump walks away with $800,000 donated for veterans (not veterans of bone spur draft avoidance) used on his campaign for 2016. Looks like a win from his perspective.
The "training for his kids should involve being home helpers for wounded, handicapped vets; where they can have the opportunity to learn empathy, not looking for the next mark.
23
The Commandeer-er-In-Chief.
8
BIG problem. This was all known before the election. The abuse of women, the false medical report et. The problem is that there are millions who do not care, they do not mind he has no character, no ethics, no morals and lies. They elected him anyway.
If our citizens lose their value of virtue then no constitution, no rules, no religious creed will bail us out. Once our sense of right and wrong and fair treatment is lost we are a declining nation. Look where we are now, after 3 years, imagine what 5 more will do?
31
Right now, the theocratic GOP and their 80-year-old fundamentalist mandarins in the Senate are the "Ancient Regime." Which means they will abuse democracy in every way imaginable to clutch at power. Keep in mind - this is the party that spends hundreds of millions every two to four years to PREVENT PEOPLE FROM VOTING. That is how divorced they are from our Constitution.
30
misappropriating 2 million dollars is not a civil case- it is a crime called grand larceny, and should be prosecuted by the Attorney General in the state court of NY
26
Trump should have been with embezzlement because that is exactly what he did. He embezzled the funds to buy his portrait, he embezzled the funds to buy the way overpriced Tebow memorabilia and, worst of all, he embezzled the funds to pay the legal fees and settlement for one of his companies.
What he did was outright theft of the foundation's money.
If the treasurer of the local Rotary Club did what Trump did, that treasurer would be sitting in a jail cell.
Regardless of anything else Trump has done, he should be sitting in a jail cell for embezzlement of a charity's funds.
29
1. But his tweets still deny capability despite the court admission. 2. If I had done what he did, I’d have been indicted for wire, mail, and bank fraud by federal prosecutors. 3. One can only imagine how bad the full story is that made a pathological liar and denier and blamer like this admit to anything as part of a settlement.
19
Again, how much more evidence do we need to clearly show that we have a criminal in the office of our president? He steals from well meaning people for his personal gain. If he can cheat a charity, he can cheat at anything with no remorse. The Senate Republicans are going to have a tough time ignoring this $2 million dollar fine and Trump's admission of guilt. But nothing is surprising when it comes to Trump.
18
@Paul Raffeld: Trump's "Art of the Deal" is the sub-rosa compromising deal term that is only suggested to the counter-party as necessary to seal the deal, which was all acted out in the Ukraine weapons for political dirt deal.
5
In sane times, this would immediately end someones political career. I don't think I have heard a single person calling for him to step down. On either side or from anyone in media. It's been normalized now and that is the scary part.
26
We don't call for Trump to step down because we know that someone who is as arrogant, narcissistic, and stupid as Trump will never step down.
7
In a just world, the people who wrote off their "charitable" contributions to the Trump Foundation would receive a bill from the IRS for the back taxes owed on that income.
7
I laughed out loud at the part where the kids have to undergo "training" so they learn not to do this again.
Right. I can hardly wait to see Junior, Ivanka and Eric show up at traffic school where they'll be told how bad it is to drive drunk. Where is this training? When? Who's going to check to see they don't pay somebody 10 bucks to go for them?
Trump scams people out of $2 million, which he then uses to help get himself elected president, from which position he then uses his hotels as a cash cow selling influence to foreign leaders. Then the court says he has to pay back the $2 million. Sounds like a loan settlement to me. And a pretty good investment strategy.
Of course, this is the basic Trump Scam his entire family has been running for decades, dating back to Dad Fred --- take somebody's money, use it to make a pile more of your own, hide the pile, then refuse to pay back what you owe until a court orders you to. Then pay it back for pennies on the dollar.
Oh yeah... I forgot... and then go to traffic school, to make sure you learned your lesson.
27
So where is Trump's court ordered public admission that he misled the public and defrauded those who contributed to his sham charity?
23
A fundamental truth that should be obvious to everyone...Trump first is Trump’s credo.
10
I am surprised no one has chosen to compare the Trump Foundation with the Clinton Foundation, an operating foundation which seeks donations and then takes those funds and applies them directly to the programs that carry out its stated mission (including, for instance, the widespread distribution of pediatric AIDS vaccine in Africa).
The Clinton Foundation has an "A" rating from the major foundation-monitoring organizations, meeting governance and transparency benchmarks.
38
I'm curious to know what the many, many people who comment here indignantly on the malfeasances of Donald Trump are doing to insure he does not win reelection. Making contributions to Democratic candidates? Getting new voters registered? Canvassing voters? Volunteering for campaigns?
Full disclosure. Not a Trump supporter. Small donor to a candidate. Not doing enough.
There are currently 875 comments here, probably overwhelmingly anti-Trump. Could that translate into 800 donations? 800 volunteers? Match every anti-Trump comment you post with an action in the real world to help defeat him?
28
Excellent point! I’m very involved in our local elections to get the vote out, and will be do all I can to see that there’s a. Lue tsunami in 2020.
9
Mari, you are exemplary!
3
@Asheville Resident: Word of mouth costs nothing. How do you suggest a person get elected without the taint of begging for money?
1
Years ago, it was surmised that Trump was soliciting money for his charity and making donations in his name to other charities using the money donated to his charity. Trump never built anything with his money. If the veterans cheer him they are just celebrating the old grifter himself.
23
Here's a question: If Trump was running a phony charity for a number of years, wouldn't there be fraudulent tax filings associated with the foundation itself and (perhaps) his donations or costs associated with it? What's the IRS doing about this sham?
30
@KR Exactly. The New York Attorney General only prosecuted under State Law. Clearly, there was also Federal Tax Law fraud, and the IRS should be seeking both civil and criminal actions against this pack of grifters.
14
@KR: Everybody in the IRS knows what it costs in personal legal fees when called to testify to Congress. Trey Gowdy gave them a beating they haven't forgotten.
3
Thank you for this. I just checked charitynavigator.org and they have a "high risk" for this "charity," dating back to November 2016. It's amazing it's still even listed as a "charity." But I can't imagine anyone more needy than POTUS.
12
Both Trump and Sanders used their charitable organizations to help themselves. I wonder if the year Bernie earned over a million dollars and he only gave a tiny bit to charity, if most of that was his own Sanders institute which employed his stepson to hold political meetings.
@Joe Barnett
1. 'Whataboutism" doesn't really deflect from the misdeeds of Trump.
2. Bernie isn't President and each time he opens his mouth a lie doesn't spring forth.
3. The Sanders Institute was a think tank, not a charity.
23
It seems this was very likely tax fraud and not just a character flaw. An impeachable offense and lots of jail time for the kids. Why wasn’t it prosecuted as such?
33
I don’t understand. Why is this not illegal and folks should go to jail?
29
A $2 million dollar fine is pennies considering how much he's fleeced. He banks on the public seeing $2 million through their own eyes and believing it's an astronomical amount of money. To him, it the fine was more than worth it because he came out so far ahead. So once again, he slips away.
16
Mr. Trump is the victim. His successful acquisition of the Oval Office, with the public's legal approval was a promise by the public to him that it would not humiliate or embarrass him by pointing out the flaws they knew he had when he ran and was inaugurated. Nobody is surprised by Mr. Trump's criminal and immoral behavior. He has the right to be surprised that the nation which bestowed it's highest elected office on him should now, suddenly, be interested in holding him accountable. 43 million worshiped his misdeeds and continue to do so. He's right to feel he's been victimized by the ones who didn't want him.
1
@Max And Max: A real gentleman and scholar worthy of trust would have declined to take office under the circumstances that installed Trump to represent us all to the rest of the world. He has no legitimacy to dictate a revolution.
10
@Max Max - you’re joking,right?
7
His fan boys and girls won't hear about the stipulation - just his complaints about how very unfairly he has been treated.
18
I ask a question I repeatedly ask: Where are the Senators, the Republican senators, what is their comment, where do they stand? This is the kind of behavior they support when they support Trump, when they make excuses for him. They and he are destroying the moral fiber of the country.
19
Any other place, any other time, a politician would have had to step down simply because of a scandal like this. A few years ago in Germany, ordinary MPs stepped down more or less voluntarily (some did not) because of their private use of Miles&More miles earned on official trips. Just to compare ...
15
If Trump has ever done anything good, and I am hard-pressed to come up with what that good might be, it has been simply a byproduct of his own self-aggrandizement. The evidence is made abundantly clear by repetitive incidents, differing in detail, but with the same end: me, me, me. I'm glad he has been called to account over his "charity," but if he is actually as wealthy as he claims, his fine is a financial speed bump and nothing more. Meanwhile, America's list of grievances against this deceitful charlatan grows longer daily. His removal from office and extensive further prosecution are both overdue. Let's get on with what he so richly (pun intended) deserves.
12
Yes, in court filings he may have been forced to admit to a scam of veterans. BUT I'll bet more average people will hear of his lying spin on his own victim-hood and believe it.
The biggest danger is the lies that trump and his enablers tell about everything, to the point that the average person doesn't learn of his transgressions.
What is needed is for the true press to introduce reporting on every lie or misleading statement made by trump with the statement that he has lied (13,000, or the latest fact-checker number) times, which calls into question the current statement. Then report on it.
The lies they tell will be the death of us all unless they are called out every single time!!
11
The local newspaper ran the story about the court decision and in reading the comments, it was obvious that several readers had an odd interpretation of the facts. One commenter thanked Trump for raising funds “for the troops”. I pointed out that the article said exactly the opposite, that the funds raised went straight to the campaign coffers to pay Trumps expenses, the return response must have been written by The Grifter-in-Chief himself - “The $2 million is more than you and your lib friends have ever done for our military”. I wasn’t able to respond to that. Left me speechless.
11
If this were any other president he'd be run out of office by both parties as swiftly as possible.
19
Well, if Trump feels badly about being fined $2 million (as opposed to going to jail), he can recover his loss by opening a GoFundMe account under the name of "Barron."
Trump once posed as a spokesman named "Barron" to call reporters to celebrate his own social exploits among the New York elite.
Deception is this guy's Modus Operandi.
12
Trump is many things, but charitable isn't one of them. He'd steal from the poor if he thought...oh wait! He already did that with his permanent tax break laws for his wealthy crowd. He such a great economists that our...deficit is trillions of dollars in the hole. His foreign policies helps out guarding those who...own foreign oil fields..and his personal political objectives. When it comes down to it, Trump's entire life is made up of him being a taker, never a giver!
14
"Reporting by The Washington Post, which led to the New York State attorney general’s investigation of the foundation, found that the foundation could not provide evidence that it gave anything to veterans groups until a reporter started asking about it, months after the fund-raiser."
NOTHING WAS GIVEN TO VETERANS GROUPS! The money raised was used by Trump personally. Come on Trump supporters....open your eyes! This guy is nothing but a fraud and a thief and he continues to enrich himself while in office. I'm so sick of this man.
20
This is why Trump gets away with it.
Donald Trump Jr. has been making the rounds shilling his self-serving book, and not one media reporter has asked him to his face, why did you think that writing a check for $25,000 to give to an Attorney General investigating your father's corrupt Trump University was a "charitable expense"?
The media just won't ask hard questions of Republicans even as we are supposed to believe the propaganda that the media is biased against them. Donnie Jr. can talk about "Christian values" while sitting next to the woman he cheated with when his wife was pregnant. How often does Donnie Jr. see the baby whose mom he cheated on when she was pregnant? Has Donnie ever apologized for cheating to his wife and children? If the media wasn't so cowed, they would ask questions that didn't allow the Trump's to spout their propaganda.
19
As a “businessman,” trump learned to do one thing really well—use someone else’s money to get stuff he wants personally, instead of using his own money. The way he conned people to donate to his charitable foundation and then used the proceeds to benefit himself is a smaller version of the way he tried to use U.S. taxpayer dollars to bribe the Ukrainian President to dig up dirt on Joe Biden. I’m sure there are scores of other examples that show trump’s mastery of the art of this particular kind of shady dealing.
10
Donnie Jr, Ivanka and Eric have to undergo learning sessions on how to not defraud a charity? That’s rich. The courts should have ordered that the three of them never, ever again, be allowed to participate in any charity at all.
11
“...personal interest outranks even the needs of veterans.”
The use of the word “outranks” suggests that Donald Trump might care about veterans.
This is absurd. Clearly, he cares only about himself.
He assigns value as follows:
- Himself: 100%
- Every other person, place, or thing on the planet: 0%.
9
As always, many comments from people willing to minimize the criminality here and excuse Trump and his family. Americans seem to just accept that their president is a thief, who stole money from a veteran's fundraiser and used it on himself. Voters don't hold it against him because they think others have done the same. So, no higher standard for an American president. It's ok if he comes from the same sewer as other con men and rip-off artists. No judgement from the voters. Carry on.
7
He “ misused” funds? Let’s call a spade a spade. He committed fraud...repeatedly. And he did at the expense of our military veterans. This is the leader of the GOP. This is the man now running for a second term as president, after committing numerous impeachable acts during his first term. How anyone can defend DJT, let alone vote for him is beyond me. Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, I’m looking at you!
13
Trump isn't too rich to steal. Think about that.
11
Trump gets caught scamming Veterans, of all people, and needs a court order to not use the money he stole from this charity to pay off the victims of another of his scams ( his fraudulent Trump University)? And Republicans and Evangelicals still vote for him? Compare to the 'nothings' they always accuse Clinton and Obama and tell me what new universe we are in.
14
Shouldn’t this be what the Democrats pound the airwaves and internet with consistently for the next year — that Trump has admitted to cheating veterans?
12
The evidence that shows undeniable corruption and immoral activity from trump continues to grow and yet the babbling imbeciles in the Republican Party ignore it all and continue supporting this embarrassment of a president. The only way this can end is to remove him from office, either by impeaching him or voting him out. The first is unlikely, the second has to be done in a decisive way in 2020. Only then will politics in America have a chance of returning to some sense of coherent normalcy and decency.
12
It’s more like “In Trump he Trusts”. Other people are expendable unless they appear to blindly serve Trump.
In Trump we have a perfect human-like creature that gravitates to shiny objects and can only be trusted to do the worst thing possible especially if it appears to benefit itself. This creature is utterly shameless, recognizes no boundaries, laws or norms, is beyond lazy and never admits wrong-doing. It simply doesn't know what any of those words mean. But it loves "big beautiful" parades be they the 100th New York City Veterans Day Parade or the 2020 Russian May Day Parade because it has the moral compass of a barnacle.
8
Imagine, if you can, Trump writing this line from Bloomberg's autobiography: "...They (William Salomon and John Geutfriend - Salomon Bros.) taught me ethics, philanthropy, hard work, and to take care of others. ..."
Forbes lists Trump's worth at 3.8 billion, in part due to not having made any major charitable donations. Bloomberg has donated more than double Trump's net worth.
8
How do we get this information into the hands of the veterans of this country, many of whom are loyal to this fraud as their commander in chief?
10
Is anyone really surprised? Can anyone honestly say that they are shocked by this? And, looking into the future, if we ever have the opportunity to see Trump's tax returns, would anyone be surprised to learn that he has given little or nothing to charity?
Indeed, it wouldn't surprise me if he donated only to the Lev Parnas/Igor Fruman Charitable Trust. Rudolph Giuliani: President. Assets deposited at Deutsche Bank.
8
Disappointed that NYT and other media outlets haven’t made a bigger deal of this serious abuse of charitable funds. This alone demonstrates a complete unfitness for the presidency.
7
Not as wealthy as he boasts
2
The President of the United States stole money from a charity.
The President of the United States stole money from a charity.
The President of the United States stole money from a charity.
The President of the United States stole money from a charity.
14
Any of us, mere mortals, would be wearing orange for exactly the same fraud.
Still, he was caught and slowly but surely the wheels of justice will continue to churn and catch him and him children.
8
Why does the creep get a $2 mil penalry when he stole almost $3mil? Why isn’t he arrested?
9
It's ok Mr. President. Most of your supporters don't read, as you don't unless it's about you. You'll be O.K.
7
There's a large Veterans for Trump coalition who want to help him get reelected. Someone should ask former fighter pilot Scott O’Grady, who sits on the board, what he thinks about this.
11
And yet his die-hard supporters will continue to support him. But we're not supposed to talk about that. We're not supposed to point out what that says about them. We're supposed to be "cooperative" and "inclusive" and "reach out" to them and "try to understand" them.
I understand them, all right.
23
@Lisa Simeone: They obviously don't even understand what extortion is.
6
@Steve Bolger:
I think they do. They just don't care.
6
Stealing from the charity of others to serve your own self.
Thief, liar, how is he going to slither out of this one?
21
@mjbarr
he is going to look you in the eye and tell you that he did nothing wrong and everyone does it anyway.
9
The president admitted he had used funds raised by the Donald J. Trump Foundation to promote his campaign and pay business debts. ---- "misappropriated funds"... ; This is Stealing.
So the officers of the Donald J. Trump Foundation where stealing. That makes them thieves .
So Donald J. Trump, and his three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric are thieves.
So sad , the tarnished " Trump Brand ."
23
Everything that Trump’s name touches - his ‘charity,’ his ‘university,’ his ‘White House’ - is a scam to enrich himself.
28
Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric will all get trained how not to take advantage of other people.
Holy Cow.
All I can say.
17
This just in from Fox News:
Yeah, but the Clinton Foundation...
14
A cheap family.
13
BREAKING NEWS: Trump is as slimy as many thought he was, for years and years and years.
18
He will stand in front of those veterans next week and lie to their faces, his solipsism on full display.
22
Why is this not banner news on the NYT front page?
Leading the nightly network news?
Any veterans who still supports Trump are out of their minds.
24
How much did they steal, IE: use improperly? If it was more than $2M there should be further penalties.
Was his sister also involved? A judge who retired rather than face a financial & tax review?
17
So Donald has been "compelled to publicly admit to having misled the public."
When't the show? I'd stay up late to watch that. But i anticipate some byzantine statement with legal terms of art to make it seem like Donald is always the poor, hapless victim.
For a strongman, he sure whines a lot.
14
@Occupy Government
Uh Mr Trump is always a victim, if any have the nerve or intelligence to disagree with him you are human scum, part of the Deep State, Fake News, part of the conspiracy to overturn the 2016 election, on and on. This could be funny if it were a TV sitcom in reality it is terrifying.
Poor little rich boy it must be really really really hard to face the world when so many Ooops everything is part of the conspiracy to destroy Mr Trump. For after all he is the Stable Genius that knows more about everything (and so much more than even the folk that have studied things to become experts in their fields) that we need to appreciate what he says and does as he will save the world.
Sheesh...this is just breathtaking in it's arrogance, and disdain for everyone else and their opinions.
Just an old white man's opinion.
5
There's an underlying question here. Why would a billionaire need to break the law to get at a couple of million dollars to pay some bills? This is either inconceivably stupid, or else Trump had no other funds available.
23
A fund raiser for veterans that the President used for his personal benefit!! Mr. Trump’s hypocrisy is mind-boggling. Either the tens of millions who voted for him are unaware of this or they simply don’t care. In either case, it is a sad commentary on the electorate which in turn reflects poorly on who we are as a people.
15
Why only $2m restitution? The restitution should be at least 10 times that. Actually, 10 times the amount the fund actually raised by outright lies.
This thing called "Trump" is a real piece of work for sure. I wonder if he ever stops lying.
Oh yeah, the kids. What can one say about that? They didn't realize what was taking place? I suppose there may be semi-valid reasons as to why they were in the dark. I guess business school isn't all it's cracked up to be...
10
2 million? why not 200 million? 2 million is equivalent to a parking ticket, and so signals to the Trumps and others who set up fraudulent "foundations" that this is a totally acceptable risk, equivalent to a petty bribe.
16
" Well Mr President the Foundation didn't work out quite as we thought. However only two million - you are still ahead ( maybe we can get a tax deduction on that ) Now we have a cunning plan ......."
12
This latest piece of evidence confirms that our president, the leader of the free world, is a fraud, a corrupt, unprincipled politician whose qualification for becoming president was his reputation as a corrupt, unprincipled businessman. How much more evidence of his moral depravity do we need before the nation as a whole unites to end one of the most disgraceful chapters in our political history?
14
Trump “comes first” is a package-deal of short-range, emotionalist Pragmatism and rationally systematic, long-range Objectivism. Its also dishonest because Leftists denounce Trump for his intellectual habit of short-range emotionalism. Trump is selfless. He’s guided by social approval.
For people growing up in the Trump family, they were taught that charity both begins and ends up at home.
8
Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward.
"Missteps"?
This is blatant outright fraud for which they should be serving prison time
16
And yet our current ruling party in the Senate and White House are fully prepared to turn a blind eye, slavishly supporting the perpetrator.
14
In normal times, this would be impeachable. In the age of Trump and his disgraceful maladministration it’s just another day. Sad.
14
And yet...
Thanks of course continue to go to ‘FoxBook’ for ensuring that no one in the Republican base will hear this news about the President of the United States. And if it does, it will have been safely filtered and remessaged by the ‘FoxBook’ platform to ensure the Great Leader has been victimized and reassure the followers that the Great Leader is still Great.
10
The curtain is slowly being pulled back hiding the delusional Wiz behind the curtain sending tweets on foreign policy,critics who annoy him and firing/hiring his cabinet officers on a whim.
Trump is a self absorbed narcissist who is only concerned about his political fortunes and his personal fortunes. We are finding out how corrupt Trump is willing to let Kurds and Ukranians dies if it serves his personal interest or a result of his lack of backbone vs Strongmen he yearns to be . But like most bullies he is a coward who trashes military heroes while he hides behind his daddy's $ and phony doc report making him Cadet Bone Spurs in charge of our military.
9
I'm happy the NYTs is highlighting this story, but am mystified by "It is, however, a rare instance in which someone is finally holding Mr. Trump accountable for his misbehavior.". Huh? How is being fined less than what you stole being held accountable? Last time I checked, fraud and theft are crimes. What would happen if you or I held a fundraiser for say abused children and spent all the money on ourselves, not giving any child a dime? I think we know.
12
The Bible tells us, "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."
But I guess Donald Trump didn't get that far into the Bible.
7
@Lilburne Trump only got as far as two Corinthians.
4
“I am the only person I know, perhaps the only person in history, who can give money to charity ($19M), charge no expense, and be attacked by the political hacks in New York State,” he tweeted Thursday evening in a statement about the settlement”
The grift was shameless. The lie was breathtaking.
12
“In addition, his three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward.”
As Robert Heinlein said, "Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig."
Trump's children don't need training; they need character. Regrettably, they have no family role model for that. The role model they do have is precisely what led them to their "missteps."
One suspects that the court means one thing by missteps and the Trump mafia hears something else: getting caught.
12
The rest of the country needs to wake up to what New Yorkers have always known - once a con man, always a con man.
10
Always for Trump, only for Trump, ever for Trump.
We have a new doxology (sing along if you wish):
"Praise Trump from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all creatures here below,
Praise Him above, these heavenly gifts,
Praise Frederick, Don and holy grift."
He now cheerfully moves from the late Trump Foundation to his lily pad in the Oval Office conveniently next door to the US Treasury Building which he also believes is his piggy bank (cf. border wall funding from the military and stalling Congressionally pledged military aid for Ukrainian extortion plot).
The $2M fine is but a mosquito bite to him, but I can hope it carries a powerful pathogen for his presidency. EEE is in season and Washington was built on a swamp (and remains so to this day).
8
No news no surprises here; a crook is a crook is a crook.
9
The Republicans and their online trolls constantly accuse the Clintons (falsely) of using their foundation for personal purposes. We hear it over and over. And here we have it PROVEN in court that Trump used his "charitable" foundation for personal expenses and we don't hear a word said from the craven Republicans. How low can they go? Does this president make them proud?
9
Trump's power to go unpunished for this lies his base of bigots, conspiracy lovers and evangelicals. They are indoctrinated, and they vote. The future of our democratic republic depends on the rest of us outvoting them in 2020. Vote this time, folks, especially you in swing states. It might be our last chance to take away his power.
6
And he tried to use OUR MONEY as his own piggy bank for his pathetic re-election! S A D...
8
Hail to the Cheat!
11
This is a pathetic settlement!
The President, the single signatory of a charity, used the good name of "foundation" to launder money, violate Campaign Finance Law restrictions - and give his super-donors a tax-write-off for making illegally large contributions to his campaign.
When needed, Donald Trump, president, CEO and the guy with the power to write the checks, also used cash in the account to aid Donald Trump, individual, candidate, then President of the US - in violation of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States...
In the same way he stands accused of using the Treasury of the United States as carrot and stick, extorting the president of Ukraine produce phony re-election campaign "dirt" on a potential political opponent, something of great personal value, also aimed at producing "dirt" on his "enemies" Hillary Clinton and Democrats in general, when Ukraine needed the aid to fight off Russian attacks.
He called the Emoluments Provision of the US Constitution he violated in the process "phony". The Constitution he swore to uphold and defend.
His petty fine to avoid trial is also an admission of violation, in addition to the campaign laws, of Internal Revenue Code USC subsection 501(c)3, and about a third of NYS laws regarding Charities.
To quote the principal: "Lock Him Up!" and do it now.
7
It's time that Trump is held accountable. not just for Ukraine but for all his misdeeds for his all life against;
- Women
- People Every human being)
- Lie
- Cheat
- Treason
- Adultery (Added to get evangelicals on board)
- list is too long..
7
"The love of money is the root of all evil..." 1 Timothy 6:10.
The Current Occupant would reference this as One Tim...
The Bible got it right with this one, and the "all evil" part is currently our White House Occupant and sycophants.
Sickening.
8
"On Monday, President Trump will kick off the 100th New York City Veterans Day Parade, at which he is likely to boast, as is his won't, of his devotion to the men and women who have served in the military." You've got to be kidding, this coward!!! Vets should refuse to march.
10
This faux charity wrote a $7 check for boy scout troop dues for his youngest son. That's all I need to know.
12
And he calls himself a Christian, while he is a proven racist, philanderer, liar, thief, and over all failure. Yet the evangelicals support him because he is against abortion.
11
@Mike Trump only pretends to be against abortion.
5
Why can’t I find the word corrupt anywhere in this editorial. Come on.
10
Once a grifter, always a grifter.....
9
Curious if this story has been on Fox News or any other RW media. I'm guessing "no" ...
6
The people who support, defend, and voted for Trump obviously do not read the New York Times.,
8
trump's income tax returns should reveal how much he has claimed as charitable deductions. It would not take much of an investigation to reveal if those donations were in fact made. If he used money from his foundation to pay personal expenses that would be considered income, and if unreported, fraud. This finding should not be end of this sorry episode, it should be the beginning of another.
5
Trump makes a good point. Assuming he was the only (or even just one) contributor to his foundation, he presumably took federal charitable gift tax deductions. As a result, he should also be charged with tax fraud. But of course that won't happen because IRS/Treasury is headed by Trump acolytes.
13
How are the Dems not making a "thing" about this? Where are the non-candidates going on the cable shows talking about lies, theft, and the violation of the trust of those who gave money with the expectation that it would go to the support of veterans? Are there any evangelicals who will call him out on this breach of faith? Will this story just get lost on the Sunday morning shows swamped by the specter of impeachment ? Certainly some high profile, non-candidate Dem could be "making the rounds" to keep this crime, sorry, "civil judgement" front and center.
4
Misuse of charity donations is a CRIME under the Charity Fraud Law and its provisions. The fine of $2 million should therefore be deemed as a penalty for committing a criminal act.
11
So thankful for this piece. This judgement could easily be overlooked in the daily impeachment news.
News of Trump stealing from his Charity which openly collected money for veterans and then privately used it on his own behalf, could easily be lost.
The impeachment inquiry is zeroed in on Ukraine and the conspiracy to solicit and extort a foreign leader for personal gain. But we don't live in a vacuum and all the other law suits and unlawful behavior are relevant when considering the President's overall willingness to be corrupt.
8
The AG didn’t go far enough. He should have disallowed every dollar Trump contributed to the charity as a tax deduction and I hope the judgement stipulates that he is not entitled to a charitable contribution for the $2MM.
7
I'm already looking forward to the reality show in which Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka go back to school! I'm hoping for a mini-series: 15 weeks, a whole semester, Pass or Fail. The ratings for would totally blow every edition of "The Apprentice" out of the water.
However, like others posting here, I'm troubled by the math skills of this judge. By my reckoning, 2.8 million in misappropriated funds minus a 2 million penalty equals an award of .8 million, give or take about fifteen cents.
Taking into account the pain and suffering of the plaintiff - that is, We the People of These Not-So-United States - I would have at the very least quadrupled the 2.8 million dollars for the penalty. That's - wait a sec, let me get my calculator - 11.2 million.
That 11.2 million penalty would go to Mr. Trump's opponent in 2020, to be used for targeted Facebook ads. Fair is fair, however, and credit should be given where credit is due: all of these ads will be noted as Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect President Trump, accompanied by a message that says, "I'm Donald J. Trump, and I approve of this message."
7
@rjk love your comedy writing skills.
3
You can bet Trump is still thumbing his nose at the attorneys who went after him on this. He'll do it again if reelected.
4
And yet a substantial number of citizens still believe that this man is fighting for their interests and security. I have been at a loss to understand why so many of my fellow Americans bought into this con man's pitch ever since the day he rode the gold escalator.
24
He'll find some greedy Trumpian way to replace these funds.
Dear Ukraine,
I need a favor ……...
10
This is another case of rich white privilege. Trump and his kids should be behind bars. A two million dollar fine is a mere slap on the wrist for these con artists.
20
...he continues to break laws ...
"I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they [gop christian faithful] let you do it. You can do anything...."
12
Just make sure you route the collection plate around this guy the next time he shows up in church. Which might happen once or twice a year, when he feels a photo op coming on.
Or when the preacher reads from ‘Two Corinthians.’
7
Could you make this a headline and not a sideline?
10
What a despicable human being he is.
21
I’m still confused. Trump publicly announced and supported money that he promised for one purpose, then used it for his own personal purposes. That sounds to me like the definition of fraud. Fraud is a criminal violation. Why was this not treated as a criminal matter?
28
I think of all the stories analyzing who Trump is or what his motives might be, this one is the most revealing. At his core he is a cynical, selfish con man. End of story. And with Hesse new revelations that should be indisputable. To all his supporters who might say they think he’s a great guy—what can you possibly say now? Isn’t this, at long last, the final straw?
17
His supporters will never hear of this. Let also read a newspaper with this information.
2
The DNC should spend some cash on tv and social media commercials explaining Trump’s abuse concerning his charity to the voters. In particular, the Fox News viewers need to be informed about how Trump defrauded veterans. A mention about how Trump’s dim witted elder children need to take ethics training would be good for a few laughs too, with special mention of the senior advisor among that bunch.
16
Seems like the man who is concerned about fake everything ran a fake charity and before that ran a fake university. Some argue he was also a fake author but we’ll give him a pass on that since many celebrities have their books ghost written.
He’s also fighting hard not to reveal his taxes because he just might turn out to be a fake billionaire.
23
This is rich in irony.
So, Trump abuses position of power to rip off and exploit for self-gain a charity he controls and then goes on to rip off and exploit for self-gain the country that he controls?
10
Didn’t the president’s conduct also violate one or more criminal statutes? Why isn’t there a criminal prosecution?
13
None of this surprises me. What does peek my interest is how his ferverent supporters hold fast. Trump has a total lack of any guiding moral principles . Charles Blow was correct that to these followers he is thier folk hero. I guess they like that he keeps "sticking" it to the system . That same system that has keep them down and out. Funny thing about that . They voted for those who stick to them and while doing so make them believe thier false platitudes. Give people enough rope & they will hang themselves. I guess that thier desire to follow Trump overrules the fact that he is turning our representative democracy into a kleptocracy. Fortunately the majority of us see this snake oil salesman for what he is- a greedy self centered man who only cares about himself. For Trump charity did begin at home. Unfortunately he may very well escape the consequences of his actions. We can only hope that he does not.
7
Read the story and substitute "Obama" for "trump". If President Obama were convicted of this, on that alone the GOP would have brought impeachment hearings. With trump, it's just a footnote to the much larger story of corruption and incompetence.
16
A cliche at this point, but it turns out that Donald J. Trump really is a one trick pony: I, Me, Mine . . .
12
Don't people go to jail for this sort of malfeasance?
11
"...his three oldest children...agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward."
Justice Scarpulla certainly has a wonderful sense of humor.
14
His children "agreed to undergo training" to avoid similar missteps." Nice to start off a weekend with a howl! They had training, all right, from Prof. Trump.
10
Who's surprised? Everything is about benefiting Trump.
8
If I recall correctly, Donald Trump blew off a scheduled primary debate in January 2016 to attend the fund-raiser in Iowa. He boasted that he was raising money for veterans, rather than engage in political activity. Then, of course, he pocketed the proceeds, until the hated media uncovered his scam months later. Just an additional morsel of meat on the bones of this story. What a guy!
13
Because it's always someone else's fault where this avaricious pseudo-president is concerned, what do we expect?
9
Trump is a grifter and a con man. We all know that.
9
In his new book Triggered: How the Left Thrives on Hate and Wants to Silence Us, Mr Trump Jr describes visiting the US war cemetery where 400,000 ex-soldiers lie outside of Washington DC on the eve of his father's inauguration.
His moment of reflection came as the president-elect laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknowns.
"As we drove past the rows of white grave markers, in the gravity of the moment,... I also thought of all the attacks we'd already suffered as a family, and about all the sacrifices we'd have to make to help my father succeed - voluntarily giving up a huge chunk of our business and all international deals to avoid the appearance that we were 'profiting off of the office.'"
He later adds: "Frankly, it was a big sacrifice, costing us millions and millions of dollars annually. Of course, we didn't get any credit whatsoever from the mainstream media, which now does not surprise me at all."Arizona Democratic Congressman Ruben Gallego, who fought in Iraq, responded on Twitter: "Eight men I served with are buried in Section 60 of Arlington".
"I visit them monthly. Even if Donald Jr lived a 1,000 years, he will never even get close to being as good and honourable as they were."
Author and former US Army Captain Matt Gallagher wrote: "Imagine going to Arlington... and being moved to think about money."
"You are a soup sandwich, @DonaldJTrumpJr, and my friends buried there would tell you the same thing," he added, using a military slang term for something nonsensical.
15
Speechless!
6
Trump is just beyond despicable
12
"People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook." ~ Richard Nixon
Donald J. Trump is a crook.
16
The black smudgy fingerprints on the Caesar coin are most apropos.
10
How do you bankrupt a casino?
9
it seems like our judicial system has become pretty useless when it comes to punishments that are actually punative or deterrent to other would be wealthy criminals. $2 million is pin prick. Rich criminals and corporations make billions, not to mention the personal gains (ie becoming president of our country!) as a benefit from their crimes. In exchange they pay peanuts in fines and keep the real gains when they get caught. There's no personal accountability. They should fear having to serve time in prison rather than know they'll just have to pay chump change.
6
Is there any chance at all that Trump's base will absorb where the money went?
http://www.thecriticalmom.blogspot.com
5
The smallest man in America.
Make it big on the backs of Americans Donald.
Petty Donald
Always the grifter Donald.
Most despicable man in America - he wins thet title handily every single day.
He knows ‘the price of everything - and the value of nothing’
7
"Corrupt Donald Trump" will be the heading on the section of our nation's history books devoted to his woeful legacy.
8
This man is no President. He is nothing more than a common thief. He is unworthy of being my President, and never will be for anyone who obeys the law!
11
Please, NYT, stop the mealy-mouthed language that so many in the press who don’t want to take a firm position use.
In the third paragraph of your editorial, you say Trump “essentially” admitted to using the Foundation as a piggy bank. Well, did he or didn’t he admit to it? If he did, then say that he did. Saying “essentially” is weak. Just like when so many journalists say that someone “basically” did something.
Please make calls without using weak, diluting language.
8
Veterans need to wake up, Trump stole from them.
12
What do you expect to learn when divine intervention reveals Trump's tax returns?
8
The best part is America's Bible Belt Christians and evangelicals who adore Trump and his consistently anti-Christian behavior.
Those folks dedicate their lives to religion and they can't even tell the difference between a charitable soul and a bottomless black hole of malignant narcissism.
America's #1 hypocrite is religious favorite.
Pathetic.
16
Nicholas Konrad . I was an advertising illustrator for 40 years. Your illustration is perfect for the editorial.
8
Trump supporters, how do you rationalize this? Please help me understand your ongoing fealty.
10
I thought money laundering was a crime.
10
yet another reason he should be impeached. Defrauding a charity my God
9
Using a charity for fraud is as swampy as it gets.
11
OK, so he's a crook and a grifter. But we've always known that about him. His cult members (i.e. base) just don't care, in fact they probably admire his ability to work the system and wish they could too. They're happy to take the word of their larcenous leader against all established, recognized media and government professionals; against scientists who warn about the effects of climate change; against noted economists who warn of the danger of high tariffs and trade wars; against our allies throughout the world who he has abandoned. They follow their leader blindly. But isn't that what cult members do?
9
When has he ever obeyed a court order? He won't pay a penny until he is imprisoned and his assets are seized.
8
This kind of meets the definition of fraud. People gave money thinking/being told that money was going to vets.
Proving intent might be a problem but instead of classes on ethics for the kids, how about orange jumpsuits?
6
Steals 2.8 million and has to pay a fine of 2 million. I'm sure to the Trump family that is considered a smart financial move. How about putting someone in prison for trying to steal money from veterans?
11
Lol. I do hope some of don-don jr.'s "training" is supervised by a warden, guard, and psychiatrist.
8
That's pocket change for Trump! Put them behind bars.
8
Trump committed crimes of tax fraud and a campaign violation. Both should be added to the articles of impeachment in the house. As the trials and conviction are already matters of public record, no further hearings are required that might slow impeachment on all the articles.
Why am I not reading about the discussion of articles of impeachment including the abuse of power in reallocating funds for the wall and selling arms in the Middle East nor some of the items in the Mueller report that Mueller specifically referred to Congress to handle?
9
Is this the same Donald Trump whose campaign is holding "contests" (after donating) for a free dinner (and travel included) with the President? So far, there are no winners.
7
Would it be possible for the people who made donations to his phony Veteran's charity drive to institute a class action suit against him?
502
@DR - It appears that Trump is not immune from civil lawsuits being lodged against him or Trump Co. while in office unlike criminal allegations. Since the civil suits against the fraudulent Trump University were settled in the plaintiff's favor, I would say yes. In just one class action case, Trump was ordered to pay $25 million to victims of Trump University (an oxymoron?) That's one of the reasons then Pres. Trump was so upset with Judge Gonzalo Curiel that he claimed on Twitter that the judge only decided against Trump because he was of Mexican heritage. What a sore loser!
89
@DR: The lawyers usually wind up with class action settlements because the paperwork needed for the class to apply for the compensation is inscrutable and the payout too modest to make it worth the trouble.
13
@DR
Worked for Trump University.
18
1. Donald Trump Foundation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_J._Trump_Foundation
2. Bloomberg Philanthropies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloomberg_Philanthropies
4
I am going to use the "L-word" here because there is no way around it. I do not use it for dramatic effect, but instead for clarity...
I'm not sure President Trump knows right from wrong anymore. He has lied and manipulated so much over the course of his adult life, I sincerely doubt he has any normal gauge as to what is considered ethical or honest or empathetic.
And everyone around him, this nation included...has normalized his behavior and actions so as not to face the frightening realities all around us.
I am not excusing or condoning Trump...he is the man he chose to become.
I am suggesting however, that we stop using our attention and our energy to be incredulous about his behavior...and instead focus our attention and energy on removing him from office, one way or another, and rebuilding what we have allowed him to plunder.
And that's the key word here...allowed. President Trump, through his choices, allowed himself to become the man - the human being - he has become.
And we the people, have allowed ourselves to go along with the "Emperor is wearing clothes" illusion - for 3 years - via our actions and our inaction.
We've become a society of following and allowing.Whereas, this nation was built on a foundation of independence and right action.
13
And like everything else, the base will look the other way. I would remind them how angry and upset they would be if someone in their hometown did this. I would also point out to them this is no different, absolutely no different, than the couple who set up a Go Fund Me page for the homeless guy only to find out it was a ruse. Those people they condemn. Trump, they can't fall on their knees fast enough for. Absolutely amazing. And pathetic.
15
Trump was a multiple bankruptcy filer. Banks would not loan him money. So of course he stole from a charity. Wouldn't anybody else do that? The more I learn about this president the more I detest the Electoral College for foisting him on us. A crime family running the government. Disgusting. But, New Yorkers, of which I am one, knew he was a crook, worse than Nixon, and we did not vote for him. He is deplorable.
18
Devotion to the men and women of the military, I think not.
Everything, EVERYTHING this man does is for show and political points. He does not care about veterans or worthy causes, they are completely beyond his scope of understanding or empathy.
Nothing can penetrate a man without a soul, and Trump is soulless.
15
Donald and brood are textbook examples of the dangers of nepotism. No brains, all needs and gall. I once read the biggest difference between privileged and poor is the size of their safety nets. At the bottom, one strike and you're out. If not for an inordinately cushy, multiple, and immense safety nets, Donald would have failed into oblivion dozens of times (and his children would be dumb nobodies instead of dumb pretend somebodies). The irony is that Donald's secret to success/failure is a total lack of respect for anyone who falls for his flimsy act (which helps explain why he finds it so easy to cheat, fleece, steal, betray, and belittle contractors, employees, bankers, lawyers, investors, co-conspirators, Trump wannabes, voters, and other fools). If only his followers/fans had the wherewithal to figure that out.
13
We are slowly becoming aware of the lengths Trump will go to enrich himself at the expense of our vets, our children and any other group he can scam. I wonder what he is doing that we don't know about yet. Taking a fortune from our military to build his silly wall so that he can feel good about himself and keep his base happy is a fine example of his thinking "What's in it for me?"
8
And this is the champion of our religious citizens? Charity begins at home? Do unto others, then help yourself? ' Piling heavy burdens on people’s shoulders and not lifting a finger to help. showing off in front of others.'
- as our country weeps for its loss of common purpose and decency.
9
Trump's approach to court ordered penalties is quite novel. If he were fined, say, for speeding - he'd characterize the fine as his contribution to road safety. If it was for tax evasion, he would likely describe it as his patriotic duty to help the Government make ends meet. If it was a challenged payment to a porn star - he would describe it, not as hush money, but an investment in America's future under his Presidency. And this is surely what Ms. Kellyanne Conway had in mind when she offered her 'alternative facts' point of view. Rashomon it's not - distortion it is.
8
We all know Donald Trump; those who love or abhor him. He hates dogs, hasn’t a sense of humor, is relentlessly vicious towards those who have done him wrong, is always thinking in terms of money and sex, and has no idea of how to be kind or loyal to anybody. It shouldn’t be a surprise that his charity was a tax dodge. He must think anyone who is in need of his money is a loser. If he would make fun of a reporter with a disability he surely would mock anyone regardless of their situation for a laugh at his rallies. I have no questions or interest in his thinking, it’s his base that frightens me. It is unsettling to think there are that many people who understand this person and find this him an object of their worship.
11
Trump is doing an absolutely excellent job of focusing public attention every day on areas of Trump's greatest weakness and faults, his total corruption, dishonesty and incompetence.
7
Trump claimed that Clinton's charity was a scam, but they are still in business and and have a high approval ratings for being transparent and honest. Trump's was closed by the courts as a scam and Trump was barred from ever having anything to do with a charity.
After all this news that Trump is basically a grifter, he has supporters. What is wrong with some people.
13
The cynicism of Trump supporters is head spinning. The other day I asked a neighbor friend who is a Trump supporter if he did not see Trump's corruption, or whether he did not care about it, the reply was "but they [as in politicians] are all corrupt". So it was just simple redirection. Did not answer the question.
I think most of his supporters are getting all their news from FOX or talk radio, so they are not operating with a set of facts and are constantly bombarded with nonsense like this from the talking heads.
6
Trump is a petty, classless boor. What’s sad is that there are people in this country who think their only option is to support such a man. These folks who actually need help and support have turned to a grifter as their last resort. It’s only the privileged (myself included) who are able to acknowledge Trump for what he actually is. The rest are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
6
This might sound overly paranoid, but how do we know that he is not doing the same thing to the Treasury? When the Mnuchin’s took selfies with the sheets of $100 bills, I wondered what in the world was going on.
Maybe it’s because I grew up in the age of The Goonies, but the thought crossed my mind that maybe Trump could pull a Fratelli. That is, since there is no bottom to his awfulness, maybe he has been printing out money to enrich himself and pay off his debts. How would we even know what his debts are since we can’t see his tax returns thanks to Republican enablers? He says he’s a billionaire but many estimates suggest that he’s not. If he could fathom doing this with charitable organizations, what could he do with the US Mint / Treasury?
8
This man plans to attend the Veterans’ Day parade in New York City this weekend. I hope he’s greeted with boos, shouts of “lock him up,” and rotten fruit thrown at him!
13
Ayn Rand would be proud. Trump is the ultimate libertarian practicing the virtues of selfishness.
6
Why are none of us surprised? Because we have seen this man behaving in all kinds of outrageous ways for three years and now nothing he does surprises any of us any more. What will be a pleasant surprise is when he is truly held accountable at long last.
8
This criminal act alone would have been embarrassment enough for any of his 44 predecessors to resign. In No. 45's presidency it is a mere anecdote drowned out by the myriad of other shady deals and self enrichments.
12
Each of these revelations makes him more popular with Americans, not less so.
What Trump says and does, is what about 50% of all voters want to say and do, but do not for a variety of reasons including fear.
Particularly white males who for one reason or another, cannot explain to themselves, why they are not at the top of the food chain, why women are not falling all over themselves to grab them, and why money is more absent than present in their bank accounts. The same visceral hate they have for people who they think are raining on their parade, is the visceral love for all things Trump and MAGA.
For white women, this stealing, thieving, scandalous billionaire - who is pretty brazen about his criminality and has his chin out saying to the world: "what are you going to do about it?" is likely very very attractive. Jordan Peterson notes that women's fantasy include vampires, and billionaires.
There is much to learn here about why evil is stronger, more popular, and more salient than the good.
9
If the incoming president promises to pardon Trump to avoid any further muckraking, that would be dereliction of duty. DJT must do some jail time for his misdeeds. And Barr and Pompeo should be impeached. A tall order, but justice demands all of it. History will look unkindly on inaction in these matters.
7
The problem is that this perfidy, the lying, the abuse of power, the total selfishness is part of a torrent of such immorality about this incoherent, inconsistent selfish person we have had to endure as our president. This needs to be shouted from the highest hilltops, written in the sky everyday now 'til the election. But alas, it still will be to deaf ears, blind eyes. Depressing.
6
“I am the only person I know, perhaps the only person in history, who can give money to charity ($19M), charge no expense, and be attacked by the political hacks in New York State,”
And of course Mr. Trump can provide an accounting of which organizations and individuals received money from the Trump Foundation, and how much. You know, like any other legitimate charitable organization can do when asked...
8
Bolton hiding from House Investigators to protect GOP. More obstruction by the administration
Trump is trying to glorify Bolton on Twitter today to keep him from testifying and/or revealing all.I think that is witness tampering.
Bolton could nail Trump for Treason but he is a Republican.
Roger Stone's trial shows the connection of Trump to Wikileaks and Russian Hacking.
And now we have Trump admitting he committed charity fraud and paying a HUGE fine.
How much more proof of high crimes and misdemeanors does Congress need?
Impeach now for Treason,Bribery, Obstruction, Corruption and misuse of Office
9
The grifter pays back the money he pocketed, this time is $2 million collected for charity and used for his campaign and himself. Lets add this to the $25 million paid to settle the lawsuits for the fake Trump University in 2016. In the meantime, his supporters applaud at his rallies and the GOP is supine at his feet.
America has been hijacked by a criminal grifter.
7
Why can’t the “children “ be put in jail even if trump senior cannot be presently put there? There is so much wrong about the penalties called for - way too lenient. This whole family is a bunch of crooks who have gotten away with it their whole lives.
9
"In addition, his three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward." Does anyone really believe this is going to happen?
6
Is anybody surprised? We all know this man is completely amoral. He probably won't understand that he has done something wrong. He really doesn't understand.
8
The amount of crimes and corrupt deals DJT has committed is breathtaking in scope and variety.
7
The question is not why Donald J. Trump, the most narcissistic creature to ever inhabit any office of the American government, acts the way he does. He is a very self-centered individual who only sees what is best for Donald Trump and not what is best for the rest of his fellow Americans. The real question is why do so many Republicans and so many ordinary American citizens continue to support this very self-centered monster who cares nothing about their needs and hopes for their futures. Regardless of what they may have been programmed to feel about the Democratic Party and people wo support Democratic politicians, why do so many Americans stand by a self-absorbed political grifter who cares nothing about them???
7
...and Trump is the President of the United States. What a shameful period of American history!
7
He is a crook, always has been, and always will be. The pathetic thing about yet another exploitation which has come to light is that there are still veterans who support this man. And too, after allegation and allegation, proof and more proof of his total lack of ethics and morality, his instability, ineptness, and volatility, Republican sycophants and cowards in the Senate and the House stick by him along with his loyal supporters at large which include the greedy, the racist, the bigot, the fanatical evangelical. I have to ask American taxpayers, "Who do you think will be picking up the $2 million IOU? Do you think this "president" will dig into his debt-ridden assets if we can call them that, or sell any of his struggling properties spread throughout the globe?" Wake up, Trump supporters. We are getting manipulated, used, and abused on a daily, indeed an hourly, basis.
8
Did I miss the part where this "foundation" and the people running it committed CRIMINAL behavior?
7
Can't New York City somehow, anyhow, prevent Trump from defiling Veteran's Day? Close the airports, block the tunnels, make up any excuse but don't allow him the opportunity to gloat and lie with NYC as a backdrop. Trump is a draft dodging gangster, pure and simple - defiant and absolutely shameless, as evidenced by another inane "I am a victim" tweet. A few years ago I thought he might, just might, suffer a massive, painful, perhaps terminal, epiphany but it's become clear that he's beyond redemption. I only hope that I live to see the day when he goes to prison, whimpering about how much he's suffered on our behalf, a selfish, self-promoting Messiah to the bitter end.
4
Another instance of the behavior of a cheap grifter. Why do people still support him? It's a mystery.
6
We certainly are not serious about white collar, financial crimes. If someone were to steal a loaf of bread, they'd likely spent some time in the slammer, but steel a six or seven figure amount, you are able to "donate" your fine...sick.
5
Trump has a lifelong history as a deadbeat. He has no sense of honesty or integrity apparent in his actions or words.
Anyone who ignored such obvious disqualifiers in voting for him suffers from a Trump-like lack of integrity or a pronounced lack of judgement.
4
And once again, Democratic Presidential candidates will neglect to capitalize on these incidents. They need to tell veterans how Trump cheated them out of almost $3 million. How he tries to milk the VA for profit by allowing his Mar-A-Lago cronies to run roughshod over career administrators. How he ordered the US military to retreat in shame from Syria. Or even ask why he nor any of his children have served (because they likely believe military service is for fools).
But, alas, no. Instead of educating the Trump base on how they are being scammed, the Democrats react with ineptitude. It is why we could be looking at another four years of this evil man.
3
Why do the media allow him to get away with statements like the ones he made. How about, "no, actually, sir, you often held fundraisers at your won properties and charged three, four or more times the amount normally attributable to 'expenses' to the your own foundation and other charities that used your facilities." That's a demonstrable fact. Or, "no, actually, sir, you pocketed X millions of the money fed to you by the McMahons and other friends, again, tax-free, like much of the rest of your income". Instead of attacking Liz Warren on how she'll pay for her Medicare for all plan, how about dedicating at least an equal amount of space to the daily, nay, hourly, assaults on decency committed by this poseur and his grifter family members?
7
He's an unbearable and absolute DISGRACE.
6
"A grift this shameless was bound to collapse under its own weight."
For me, this sentence epitomizes the very essence of DJT.
Having this man in the White House is the greatest con the Russians could have perpetrated on the American public.
His grubby fingers in the till and his hand on the nuclear football. What could possibly go wrong?
4
I loathe Donald Trump and all that he stands for. As a native New Yorker who lived in Brooklyn and Manhattan for 35 years, I grew up reading about Trump. He was just like that annoying mosquito that buzzes around your ear when you are trying to sleep.
He was pathetic, always trying to get on the tabloid pages, saying or doing anything that would add to his notoriety. An egoist to the extreme.
But in all honesty, why on earth wouldn't he feel unique, special, untouchable? He has never, ever had to pay a price for any of his transgressions, be they business oriented or personal. He has bankrupted business (six times!), had a $413 million dollar line of credit from his Dad, cheated on his wives, been distant from his children.
He got out of the draft due to his status, has consistently reneged on paying his contractors, and used the legal system as a weapon (thanks to the training he got from Roy Cohn).
And now he is the president of the United States, winning that vaulted position even after saying things and behaving in such a crude manner that any other candidacy would have been sunk before s/he got out of the starting gate.
So sure, he always puts himself first. Why wouldn't he?
12
“Charity begins at home” that is the trump family motto, right?
Nothing is worth doing unless trump is the main beneficiary.
How many more times will trump enablers have to be hit over the head with truth before they finally cry “Uncle”. trump and his family are losers in every sense of the word and they claim all their supporters as members of their worthless clan.
3
Foundations, government contracts, charitable institutions have been flawed in many different ways with loop holes that are like our porous or like gaping holes. Just like the Metoo movement exposed all the sexual abuse that took place over the years, it is time the government contracts and foundations are investigated for waste and irregularities by some movement.
4
Abusing the charity system. What a family. These people belong in prison, not power. They are nothing more than grifters. It’s an embarrassment.
6
Trump...victim...Trump...victim aha this is where the abbreviation TV comes from. Trump must have thought that TV is where he could find salvation. How disgusting this individual really is. Pity he wasn’t ordered to pay punitive damages of 100 million or more for the likely impact he has done to legitimate charities and Veteran’s groups.
5
I can't believe Trump has the audacity to go to NYC on behalf of Veterans! Most Veterans I know hate him, particularly after his stupid, dangerous Syrian stunt which resulted in the release of over 1000 ISIS prisoners .... And most NYers I know hate him more than veterans do.
It will not surprise me one bit if he gets "egged" out of town and shouted down.
6
Good Lord. My 92-old mother had to go through Pearl Harbor and Sept 11.
2
Please excuse my naïveté, but some poor souls (undoubtedly Black or Hispanic) are serving jail time for petty theft (or maybe selling loose cigarettes?), but a multi-million dollar scam results in no punitive penalties?
Actually, I take it back. I truly am totally naive.
“Sad! Very sad!”
9
How is this not impeachable?
8
Again,Thief and the Thiefettes don't go to jail for fraud and grand larceny, rich protecting the rich. If you or I, assuming you are not rich, were to commit the same behavior, we'd be deep inside the prison. Bloomberg is of the same ilk - make no mistake. The rich always protect the rich.
4
People vote for Trump not because they like him as a person. He is seen as the “flawed instrument of God’s will” who will rid the country of abortion, immigrants, atheists and socialists. His personal flaws are totally irrelevant to his cult following.
5
"...Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training..." ?
Training? That's their punishment for contributing to a multi-million-dollar fraud?
8
The irony of draft dodging trump kicking off the veterans parade is laughable. The scammer in chief showing yet again that he is a complete crook.
5
Trump cares about one thing and one thing only: Donald J Trump. There really is almost no one who rises( or is it sinks?) to his level of narcissism and complete self absorption.
5
If only a gag order would be imposed upon him in every aspect of public life.
Frankly, it would be worth seeing a photograph of his hair(bereft of Aquanet)combed back than seeing his, no doubt redacted tax returns.
3
As Trump was insisting with the President of Ukraine, the NY AG and Judge is this fraud case should have made part of the judgment that Trump must go on TV, preferably both CNN and Fox and admit to what he did and then never be allowed to Tweet about it again.
5
Trump is a fraud. Besides bankrupting an Atlantic City casino, which has to be his most epic failure, and his phony "charity," there were many other scams. Remember Trump University, Trump Vodka, Trump Steaks, Trump Airlines, the GoTrump travel agency, Trump Mortgage, the Trump Board Game, Trump Magazine, Trump Ice water, the New Jersey Generals, Tour de Trump bike races, the Trump on the Ocean Long Island catering hall, the Trump Network vitamin-selling Ponzi scheme, Trumped talk radio and the Trump New Media video-on-demand and high-speed internet service?
8
A significant number of core rural Trump supporters are literally the ideological descendents of those who wholeheartedly believed it was their God given right to own, beat, rape, and murder other humans on the basis of skin color. When they were forced to stop owning humans (at least officially) they reframed their shame in the visage of false nobility by anointing it as the lost cause. Indeed, many of their descendants still proudly celebrate this traitorous wounded-ego pathology to this very day. That said, it’s clear that they are as incapable of recognizing their own evil thoughts and deeds today as were their predecessors - so no matter what Trump does, nothing will change and their support will not waiver. Their culture of corrupt and willful ignorance is 400 years in the making. Trump didn’t create them, but he is a near-perfect fit atop their head like a white-dunce-cap shaped cloth hood that they have eagerly awaited to wear again since Jim Crow began to lose power.
6
"his three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward."
Seriously?? They need TRAINING in how not to be a crook? Good LORD. I.Am.Speechless.
8
Every single day, a new revelation that the “POTUS” is dirtier than dirt. And now, confirmation of what we already knew, he’s all about him and him only.
Frankly, I’m nearing my breaking point with exhaustion.
9
trump would steal the March of Dimes canister of the counter of a local store if no one was looking.
8
Trump and the three stooges should be banned from any future leadership in any charitable foundation for the duration of their natural lives. No amount of retraining can stop a professional grifter from grifting.
6
Reminds me of Aaron Burr
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan_Company
2
Donald Trump regularly projects his flaws and failings, which are legion, onto others.
Remember his repeated unproven lies about graft and corruption in the CharityWatch A rated Clinton Foundation - a real charity that saves millions of lives around the world?
Why did he think the Clinton Foundation was corrupt? Because he knew the Donald J(ackass) Trump Foundation was corrupt.
He projects his crimes on others through his baseless accusations, invented by his own guilt.
Former Mayor Bloomberg was right: New Yorkers knew a con man when they see him.
How low must one be to create a phony charity to steal even more money, having already broken every other law ever written?
This man needs to be far away from the US Treasury and out of office.
8
David Parsons
Do you remember when he said Hillary had “so much hate in her heart”? during one of the debates? Hillary literally gasped, as did some members of the audience. I’ve often thought of this because, as you say, Trump only ever speaks of himself. He continually projects his own worst behavior and instincts upon others, then attacks them for his own failings. He seems utterly incapable of putting himself “in someone else’s shoes” and consider another’s motives for their behaviour. It’s why he seems incapable of making any mutually beneficial deals on the world stage and also why he has a strong distrust of public servants who could earn significantly more in the private sector. He cannot conceive their motives, thus he distrusts them or believes they must be incompetent.
The “hate in her heart” comment has often comes back to me when I’m feeling (v. occasional) pity for Trump - who doesn’t seem to have the things in life that make the worst days bearable - genuine friendships (as opposed to transactional allies), laughter (he rarely laughs and when he does it at another’s misfortune) or the security of the unconditional love of family or even a dog. He’s a black hole of neediness- a pitiable state for a grown man.
3
This particular news item barely made any front page appearance anywhere. So in today's ultra-fast news cycles, it basically didn't happen.
5
He didn’t “use it as a piggy bank.” He _stole_ donations intended for veterans. Has the whole world gone insane?
8
Can you imagine if Joe Biden had done the same thing. Trump would be tweeting about 'corrupt Joe Biden' non-stop. He'd mention Biden's charitable fraud at all of his rallies to the chant of 'Lock him up!' That's how Trump would deal with the information because that just the kind of guy he is..... shameless.
8
Just another nail in the coffin I hope. Pay up Donnie!
5
Donald Trump,Sr. first best business and charitable 'choice' was his selection of a New York City real estate baron daddy to inherit 295 streams of income from.
Trump's second best business and charitable ' choice' was colluding with Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin in order to get elected President of the United States for the lasting, lingering and looming profitable advantage of the Trump Organization.
By refusing to declare, discrimination and divest his assets into a blind trust you can't tell where Trump Mar-a-Lago ends and Trump Administration White House begins.
No collusion with the Russians except for all of the collusion with the Russians
No obstruction of justice regarding collusion with the Russians except for all of the obstruction regarding collusion with the Russians.
MAGA means make Israel and Russia great again.
4
@Blackmamba
3rd paragraph …. to declare, disclose and divest..
2
He won't lose a single voter over this. Either because they are blind worshippers and don't care about supporting a criminal in return for alignment around racism, or because they'll never hear about it, as Fox News will not report on it.
7
Be careful Mike Bloomberg in NYC. Don’s working up his mob’s acceptance of his immoral behavior to the Fifth Avenue assault that he had bragged about.
3
Why isn't this a crime?
Didn't this charity write a $25,000 check to give to Pam Biondi, the Florida Attorney General who then dropped the investigation into what we now know was the corrupt Trump University?
How is that anything but a crime? Giving the Trump children "retraining" instead of charging them with embezzling a charity's funds for their own father's use. It's outrageous that if you are rich enough, "shameless grift" just gets you a fine you can easily pay because of all your other shameless grift.
9
there must be some mistake.
donald trump is, i'm sure of it, the most honest liar that's ever lived.
at least that's what people are saying.
5
Trump should surely be disinvited from the Veterans Day Parade.
8
" In addition, his three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward."
Learning how not to get caught grifting seems like an appropriate training for convicted fifth avenue grifters.
5
The Judge should have cited the fact that Mr. Trump's lone act of charity and compassion on record as President has been to throw cheap paper towels at Puerto Rican storm victims.
Not that he ever paid for the towels personally.
Here, by way of comparison to Trump, is what another famous gangster once did.
https://www.history.com/news/al-capone-great-depression-soup-kitchen
5
How is Trump's fraudulent use of his foundation's money not an impeachable offense?
7
Stealing from veterans, with his kids' help. How low can you go?
How can ANY true American stand behind this cheater?
8
Political opportunist Pam Bondi, the new flotsam in Trump's impeachment war room, didn't seem to have any problem allowing her campaign to accept a $25,000 check from the Donald J Trump Foundation. Was it pay-to-play for overlooking the Trump University scam?
6
Now that his residence is moving to Florida, won't he be able to resume the scam?
4
Trump is a professional Victim. He is the guy who whines that your face hurt his fist.
His kids actually have to go to training so they know what a “charity” is.
These folks are twisted. “Lock them up” might be for real.
8
The judge should order all the money to go to the John McCain memorial fund.
4
A person can't get much lower than to spend charitable donations on himself. That's like kicking someone's pet dog. Oh wait, Trump did that, too. He was sued for kicking someone's pet Irish Setter. Trump settled out of court.
The only way Trump can go much lower is to actually shoot someone on 5th Ave.
6
God has placed Donald Trump before us as a reminder of evil. Yes, a person as our president that is totally contrary to what our great nation is, and represents. Please vote on Tuesday November 3, 2020. Rescue America from the hands of a madman.
5
This story illustrates just what a cheapskate Donald Trump is, similar to his attempt to use money not his own, but rather the American taxpayer's, to force Ukraine's officials to do his bidding.
6
Why are media writers so ignorant that none have called the crime for which congress seeks a name "extorion"?
It is as simple as that. BBC commentatorss have said, on TV that the congress is trying to make a criminal case that the President committed "bribery". This is ridiculous!
The Trump group is and has committed extortion. Otherwise lknown as blackmail.
One need not have cash or gold bars to prove consioderation pased. Often-as with Ukraine-fear, or generating fear is the point of the extortionist-and the Ukrainians were terrified of being left in the lurch, by Trump, to fight the Russians, without the promised and voted for, US weapons and aid.
See the "Hobbs " act in the US federalk law-even in WIkipedioa.
3
Trump's criticism of John McCain and the Khan's was just a tragedy. How he had any support from Veterans is confusing. His belittling of Col. Vindman was again ludicrous. All this chaos from someone who never served in the military and evaded the draft numerous times. Trump support is quite simply ….UNAMERICAN and UNPATRIOTIC !! MAGA? Where is it?
6
Hey, if you can't steal money from charities, who can you steal it from?
Maybe Trump Inc can begin targeting sick people?
4
If being in the palm of Putin doesn’t resonate with American sensibilities, then we’re in a land of deep don’t do.
Don’t do what’s right. Don’t believe what you see or hear. Welcome to you’re self inflicted post truth nightmare.
4
Do shoplifters get off this easily?
6
Every day our country more closely resembles the society founded by the pigs in Orwell’s Animal Farm, whose constitution was eventually reduced to “Some animals are more equal than others.”
Poor and dark people go to jail for petty larceny. Children are put in cages for being foreign born and brown. The president steals millions from veterans and tweets about the injustice of having to pay back what he stole.
5
How will he be greeted at the Veterans Day Parade on Monday in NYC?
4
Like his 3 kids will get anything out of a training session, when the instructor says take a seat he or she might want to make clear it’s a request to sit down and not steal a chair— credit to Bill Maher—.
Also, exactly who thought it a good idea to have this grifter lead the Veterans Day parade, as someone who served I couldn’t be more offended. Better his overlord Putin be marching in front, at least he did wear a uniform in service to his country and he is kind of the titular CIC of our armed forces.
4
"A grift this shameless was bound to collapse under its own weight. " Tick-tock, tick-tock. We're watching a president being hoisted on his own petard. Almost Shakespearean.
5
Since when did the Clinton Foundation actually accomplish any single thing .at all. There was some great journalism in Harpers that dig deep and far to show... nothing. Let’s just keep this real, shall we?
1
Why is NYC allowing Trump to participate in the Veteran's day parade after defrauding Vets through his bogus trust?
4
Well has he hit the lower than a snake's belly department now?
5
Once a crook, always a crook. And, of course, he is the one who is being victimized….as always. Poor little Donald.
4
This has been known for a long time. Then of course there is also the $25 million dollar fine for the Trump University scam. Also of course the Stormy and Karen issue for which Don's lawyer is now serving time for following Trump's directions.
The archetypal Ugly Australian, Rupert Murdoch lucky not to be prosecuted for his UK scandal, has destroyed America with Fox News.
"Murdoch and his son, James, were summoned to give evidence at the Leveson Inquiry. Over the course of his testimony, Rupert Murdoch admitted that a cover-up had taken place within the News of the World to hide the scope of the phone hacking. On 1 May 2012, a parliamentary select committee report concluded that Murdoch "exhibited wilful blindness to what was going on in his companies and publications" and stated that he was "not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company"
America if you are listening, you let this guy become an American citizen in 1985. You need to improve your vetting and processing of immigrants. Sincere apologies from Australia. How embarrassing for us.
5
The American people should all be furious an accomplished thief still squats in 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue instead of Sing Sing. These days of self-deception are now ending for many collaborators.
6
Trump is nothing more than a small town grifter.
4
The settlement shows Trumpo’s kids are grifters too.
And no new short hair bob for Ivanka, supposedly done to make her look more “serious” to prepare her for a political run in the future, will wipe the tar off her character.
5
Stealing from veterans...
What class!
Trump class...
5
The moves by the congress to ensure a fruitless investigation of Trump-which, in factm, is an attempt to expose candiate Biden to heated scorn and phony accusations from the far left and the right of the Democratic party-thus eleminating or weakening the Biden candidacy severely-long before he can defend himself-at the same time, alolows conservative Republicans who have a hard time getting along legitimately with Trump-to claim they want a better candiate fdor the Democrats: who?
A conservative Repoublican Billionaire of unknown politicalbelievfs: Bloomberg!
By both torpedoing the Biden candidacy-and saddling the Party with one more impossible used car salesman - GOP members on the Times' staff can make the story that they have the Democrats and the Nation's intersts at heart. In fact-no ex mayor of NYC ever has been a candidate for presidenmt not made such an office serve them.
Fomer mayors of NYC are radioactive to the rest of the USA.
Stephens is just another new 1%er, to claim special knowledge he nor any other at the Times have.
If Stephens favors Bloomberg-everyone else needs to be against him.
Let Bloomberg run as a Republican-his own party-if he wants to show good faith.
Running to sink the Dems is just assurance of what he is really in favor of. Another term of Trump-if not more. . .
2
How does the Republican party continue to stand behind him? What's next, stealing old lady's pocketbooks? It's mind numbing.
5
The key question is: How can anyone believe any of his claims, such as his campaign pledge to self-finance his entire presidential campaign, when he plunders his own charity for that specific purpose?
How can 40 % of the population support such a vile, evil man?
I used to wonder how a large number of Iranians could have voted for Ahmadinejad, and then I realised the votes may indeed have been legitimate among simple, religious villagers who believed his nonsense about being in direct contact with the 'missing Imam'.
But what is the U.S.A.'s excuse? Is the heartland really so illiterate, so blind and so fanatically religious, that they will believe any self-proclaimed messiah's words without examining his actions? I guess so.
Looks like the U.S. and Iran have much in common. Time for a rapprochement.
3
Bordered N/E/S/W...by Himself....”President” Trump is our
Monumental Sociopathic Personality Disorder, enthroned in our
Oval Office. He is enjoying his Position as our National COA
(Center Of Attention). Long may He Thrive in this Kingdom
He has contrived and created as another Position in which to “Serve” only Himself. He is beyond Treatment; we,the People, are in Need of it!
3
A confirmed extreme narcissist can't have it any other way!
3
As this article points out, Donald Trump, the corrupt opportunist he is, as well as his children and son-in-law, view the US treasury as well as the White House as one giant slush fund. Though much bigger than the Trump Foundation, the entire crime family has only viewed money and people as opportunities to: 1) advertise Trump Properties from their high perch as the President of the USA 2) obtain over 34 trademarks for Ivanka Trump Marks L.L.C. in total from China, Japan, etc. 3) Sell books including Don Jr.'s latest, "Triggered" 4) The "America First" President was negotiating with oligarchs to build a Trump Tower in Moscow while running for office in 2016 5) Negotiated with China to fund a billion dollar Indonesian development feature Trump name brand properties 6) Almost got away with selecting failing Trump property, Doral, which has bed bugs & rusting chaise lounge chairs for annual 2020 G7 Summit 7) taxpayer funded golf vacations every weekend advertising his Trump properties to the world 8) failure to divest from his business & actions/pressure on foreign leaders to stay at his properties has resulted in over 2,300 separate conflicts of interest according to the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington 9) Charging more for golf memberships at Mar A Lago after taking office thus profiting from his Presidency 10) Employing his children as Presidential advisers giving them opportunities to enrich themselves through their contacts (e.g. sell 666 Fifth Ave)
5
A grift this shameless was bound to collapse under its own weight.
We can only hope his entire administration, and every enabling member of it, circles the drain and follows the president down.
5
I'd like to know Lindsey Graham's thoughts on this.
5
Let’s not forget that the short-fingered vulgarian also tapped the Foundation to pay Don Jr’s Boy Scout fees.
5
Words are really inadequate to describe what a depraved and disgusting human being Donald Trump is, and it appears at least three of his kids are following lockstep in his footsteps.
Trump supporters are a plague afflicting the vast majority of this country that is educated and works hard and succeeds.
4
Remember when you believed Donald Trump when he said things and told you how he wasn’t going to take any money and he wasn’t going to have time to play golf, because he was going to spend all his time working for us. Yeah...Neither do I.
5
Of course, there's nothing charitable or even decent about this malignant narcissist playing reality TV president. Those who find something likeable about him and play golf with him or socialize at his failing resort are dupes for a sociopath. How can anyone in their right mind, availing themselves of information about how he handled his phony foundation or dozens of other corrupt activities, consider this subhuman to be fit to serve the US as our highest elected official? Yet millions continue to be supportive of him, willfully blind to or dismissive of his grotesque pathologies and danger to our nation.
4
No amount of "training" is going to stop these grifters from grifting.
4
In true bully style Trump always tries to belittle others in other to build himself up. This is especially true of the Trump Foundation which has been awash in criminality now proven in a court of law. His crowds yelled 'lock her up' to Hillary Clinton for the very same tricks he was committing in his bogus foundation. But never mind they will still chant this mindlessly as the man in front of them is a proven conman and felon.
4
New Trump hat: MACA B, "Makin America Corrupt Again Boss".
2
Charitable Foundation is TrumpSpeak for slush and shush fund.
Sad.
2
"....his three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward."
Imagine having to sit in a room and "train" these three pieces of garbage.
5
Silence from Trump supporters. Amazing.
3
Are you sure you’re not talking about the Clinton “Global Initiative” ?
It is a huge scandal. It should end the political career of anyone who has any thoughts whatsoever of running for office.
Of the conservative web sites I visit, not one of them mentioned the decision. Maybe tomorrow.
5
As I thought about this editorial commenting on Trump’s behavior in basically treating a charity as a commodity for personal convenience; the Court’s action in response to this; and Trump’s response to that, ie, the Court, it became evident that though evil, basically, can be dealt with in the interest of justice, doing so does not eliminate it ... not even close. That Trump as president nonetheless has significant national support (approximately 40% “approval”) in spite of his consistent behavior seems disturbingly telling about much of who we are as a nation. And this is not about trivial distracting matters of “morality” that are so ridiculed as to make moot, it’s about morality itself. Not to defend Trump at all, but our national problem may be much deeper than he is to us. In fact, he may be a way for our not dealing with it. Evil is insidious.
6
Really, how do we explain this creature’s malfeasance in office and moral turpitude to future generation? More importantly, how do we explain supposedly “good men” (I.e., Republicans in Congress) doing nothing ?
10
Only in the Trump era is this massive scandal essentially a non-story...
727
@John the number of times I’ve thought “imagine the reaction if Obama had done this” are too many to count. Republicans would easily oust a Democratic President as corrupt as Trump and they’d earn bipartisan support and glowing media coverage along the way. The standards they apply for their own seem to have no bottom.
95
@John
If there was just the tiniest amount of oxygen left in the room, but alas.
33
@John and what if....he gets re-elected????
I clicked on his tweets and he has lots of supporters
6
I am not the slightest bit worried about DJT 2020.
In 2016 he really did not have a record as an elected official and public servant.
Now he does.
This story and the other 20 serious legal troubles will make him simply unable to govern. Other than a slam dunk tax cut for the wealthy he has passed no legislation of his own in over 3 years and that’s with a Senate majority.
The legal peril and his pending impeachment in the House will further ruin his “brand”, to where it is not salvageable.
Just as Dems want someone that will defeat DJT in 2020, the gop wants a candidate that can beat the Democratic candidate.
DJT is not the one to do it!
6
In business, Mr. Trump would structure Byzantine deals so as to provide lining for his pockets even as the projects themselves crumbled, leaving the investors with the rubble. In public office, he considered the funds allocated by Congress for foreign military aid to be useful in leveraging help for his political campaign. And as now confirmed, tax-free funds that were supposed to be directed toward the public good became his personal slush fund. Far from the behavior of a fiduciary, that's how one would expect a shoplifter to behave if given responsibility for others' funds.
23
@Jonathan - righteous, sir! A shoplifter, I love it!
2
The thing is, this kind of abuse of family foundations is done all the time in semi legal ways. Family members and connections are given inflated salaries, lavish “business” expense accounts, vacation trips disguised as board meetings, etc., etc. Sure there are some worthy principled groups, but there are far more who use the foundation as a private tax free cash cow, even if not as blatantly as the trump family.
220
@Nancy I expect you're right that family foundations are easy to abuse, and board meetings take place in the nicest places.
But the obligations for trustees of public charities, including small nonprofits and lots and lots of churches are strict and extend to positive obligations of loyalty to, and support for those organizations. Often enough, ordinary people carry out their responsibilities well. The ability of a society to support honest organizations is a measure of its health.
84
@Nancy I concur with Nancy. The real issue is whether we are going to continue to allow Congress and every State prosecutor to trample our Nation's Presidents during their term in office with every infraction they can imagine. We have trivialized impeachment, first with Clinton and now on the issue of the Ukraine, and distracted the front page of the New York Times from the discussing the truly SERIOUS issues we face.
3
@David Martin no they aren't easy to abuse. They are required by law to be audited every year. trump foundation never audited and used as personal bank account where he never gave a dime. It is right wing talking points to always give trump a pass saying everyone does it. If trump was taking large salaries or lavish expense reports he wouldn't have been tried. It is out and out fraud he was being tried for.
76
“In addition, his three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward.” So let’s be clear about this statement so there’s no confusion: These three adult children (not to mention their father) need to be trained how not to misuse funds raised for charitable purposes to advance their own self-interests. Is it possible to train someone to be ethical? My guess would be no.
1411
@DG They should have been prohibited from serving on any foundation board or organizing/owing any foundation for the next twenty-five years.
137
@DG
Correct;
No one should need “ trainings “ on how
not to be a rip off artist.
Like trump, none of his offspring have
any ethics at all. A class will not help them. However jail time might.
166
@DG Sadly, the training will be lost on them, as I'm sure they already knew that it was wrong to use the donations for personal /campaign use. What they will most likely take away from all this is how to better cover their tracks so as not to get caught again.
112
I understand that Republicans see Mr Trump as a tough guy who can get their agenda priorities done but can they really be comfortable putting their party and the conservative movement I’m the hands of a man who cheats charities out of money? Really?
1119
@Mark Marks
“If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy.”
— Republican strategist David Frum
229
@Mark Marks - Yes. They're quite comfortable with taking healthcare away from millions (65+ votes to outlaw the ACA and suing to declare it null & void, on the way to SCOTUS
83
@Mark Marks - Yes. They're quite comfortable with taking healthcare away from millions (65+ votes to outlaw the ACA and suing to declare it null & void, on the way to SCOTUS), denying Medicaid to millions, giving a trillions dollar tax cut to the wealthy, cutting SNAP & WIC, I could go on but you get the point.
Republicans have no conscience and loathe giving a single dollar to anyone other than themselves and their donors.
79
He's hardly the first wealthy person who used a charitable foundation for personal privilege and gain, and he won't be the last.
4
That’s the best defense you can come up with?
3
@Ed
And that makes it right...?
3
@captain canada Gosh no, but what part of his life experience surprises you any more?
1
It is difficult to remain calm while considering the sheer volume of evidence of Trump's pure awfulness, and the esteem he is afforded by over 90% of the Republican electorate. The man has cheated on all three of his wives, cheated with his charitable foundation, cheated his business partners, cheated contractors, cheated banks, cheated students of his "university", yada,yada,yada. It's all public knowledge. No rooting through layers of obfuscation is required.
That this sad excuse of a con artist not only won the presidency, but has done a predictably catastrophic job at it for three years, and still holds the approval of the vast majority of American Republican voters is an indelible stain on the country. It is impossible to overstate the damage Trump's continued support among Republican voters and politicians has done to America's reputation. The rest of the world is appalled at American support for Trump. It will color every interaction, geopolitically and personally, between America (and Americans) and the rest of the globe for the foreseeable future.
33
Well said. The Republican support for Trump’s blatant hypocrisy and lawlessness is incomprehensible. Proud to protest such unpatriotic behavior. That we must take on an entire party to save our Democracy is quite frightening. I hope the judge releases John Bolton to testify in the impeachment inquiry. He seems to be the one Republican who might save the nation from this hateful crime family and his GOP henchmen.
3
I hope veterans are paying attention.
32
Hold up a mirror to his business and personal life and what do you see?
The shock is all the evangelical followers (not all evangelicals!) who are able to ignore the character of this man. Where are the religious leaders of these groups? They have moral obligations that they are ignoring. To throw him out of the Temple of Democracy is their obligation as spiritual leaders in the Trump base camp. Now...
19
Clearly, a person resorting to these fraudulent schemes to raise money to pay bills is no billionaire. His complicit, arguably adult children escaped with a slap on the wrist, a time-out penalty. Think about how disgraceful it is for these entitled "adults" to hobnob around the world on funds raised to assist veterans. That's pretty low.
19
We all knew where this was headed the minute this deeply flawed man was elected President and gifted enormous powers. He is a man who should be living his life in the shadows and far away from real power. He should have been content to living an extravagant lifestyle fueled by underhanded and deceitful business practices while always trying to stay one step ahead of the law. We see men and women like this in business all the time. On far too many occasions, they find their way into government. But to hand the keys to the White House to someone like Trump is a stain on our country. Right now, we need to either vote him out or throw him out....by any legal and ethical means necessary.
28
“I am the only person I know, perhaps the only person in history, who can give money to charity ($19M), charge no expense, and be attacked by the political hacks in New York State,”......I splattered coffee all over my screen from laughing when I read this line. This is our president. Unbelievable, but his minions remain undeterred.
28
This is at least the second or third time a Trump non profit has been caught doing this. Why are the AGs not pursuing criminal charges for this crime family with an appalling record of recidivism?
21
@Eric . . .as long as he is designated president the Constitutional reading is he can't be indicted for a crime. Now. . . when he is no longer president, that's a horse of a different color. Why do you think he changed his residency to Florida?
4
Trump is a sorry excuse for a human being. And it looks like his venality has been already passed on as an inheritance to his eldest sons and daughter.
21
Oh, for the days when lying to veterans would have ruined a politicians career.
32
@Lil50 , and for the days when republicans thought one lie to Congress was enough to impeach a president. Or the days when republicans expected that president to sit for testimony and produce documents as the law requires. Or when they thought the Clinton foundation was corrupt......Aaaaauuuuuggghh!
3
Shouldn't they be going to jail for this? Isn't stealing a crime? I do not understand how this guy gets away with everything. Everyone knows his paying a fine means nothing to him. Plus he admitted guilt. Lock him up and his children with him.
21
As a longtime New Yorker, this latest court verdict doesn’t surprise me at all. Trump has been a con man all his life and he specializes in Ponzi Schemes. His Raison D’être is: “What is in it for me”.
Trump is the Bernie Madoff of US politics.
22
Like countless others I cannot say what I'd really love to say because *comments are monitored for civility*.
15
He can't help, but help himself.
6
In the Marine Corps we have a program called Toys for Tots. In Tucson, there is a nonprofit called Casa de Los Nino, a home for battered children. Communities across the world uniformly protect the most vulnerable, our children. It is endemic to our soul to protect children so what does it say to the world when the President of the United States admits misusing money donated to benefit kids?
How does the Evangelical community reconcile their unwavering support of Trump? How does Lindsay Graham, William Barr, Mike Pence and Moscow Mitch sleep at night knowing they alone are keeping such a fiend in power?
What does it say about the American gun community when schools are referred to as target rich environments?
Finally, why isn’t Trump in jail next to pedophiles and pornographers and all others who would harm our children?
America has gone completely mad. I am ashamed of my country every day 320 million people don’t rise up and demand Trump’s removal from office.
39
@Former marine . . . get in touch with all the service people you know active and retired and alert them to what you just said. They may be too busy serving our country and may not yet really understand who the Commander in Chief really is.
And thank you for your service!
5
Seriously, the kids get off with a slap on the wrist and have to go to "school"? They should all be thrown in jail for a few months to help them "understand" their contemptible actions.
12
Well of course he got away with stealing again. Instread of going to jail, he gets to claim victimhood and his supporters will lap it up.
9
Make him tweet his admission of guilt. Plus an apology to the veterans whose service he desecrated for his own needs.
8
"Misbehavior?" Fraud.
"Misled the public?" Conned. Lied. Stole. Cheated.
10
Tightwad Trump gives even Scrooge a bad name. He is a raving narcissist who lacks empathy; perennially basks in victimhood when not victimizing others as he did with his charity; takes the old saying "charity begins at home" the wrong way; and is the embodiment of the Gordon Gekko mantra, "Greed is good."
7
The tragedy is, we knew all about this in 2016. Yet today, thousands of Puerto Ricans, hundreds, if not thousands of Ukrainians, hundreds, if not thousands of Kurds, and dozens of mainland Americans have needlessly lost their lives as a result of Trump's self dealing, corrupt, incompetent, traitorous actions as president. We must do better next year.
13
Donald Trump shoots one more person on Fifth Avenue.
Americans are so desperate for a political outsider to take the reigns that a third of them will keep looking the other way and continue to fantasize that this alligator will drain the swamp. That this consummate insider will shake up Washington.
The Trump 2020 campaign says it takes someone "tough" to take on the establishment, the elite. I agree. But DJT is not tough, he's just, at best, a useful fool for the establishment, the elite.
8
Yet ANOTHER blatant fraud by Trump exposed? As well as his blatant LIES about it? A serial con man and no doubt a major income tax evader...
How much more proof does the world need of Trump's manifest unfitness to be anywhere except in a penitentiary?
9
Trump is genuinely surprising.
He constantly surprises on the downside.
And then when his new crime / illegal behavior / malfeasance is exposed he paints himself as the victim.
It’s sad to think what he’s doing to American culture and values.
The sooner the American people dispose of Donald Trump and his awful family the better.
8
The key sentence in this article, for me, is "It is, however, a rare instance in which someone is finally holding Mr. Trump accountable for his misbehavior."
I am drained and depleted from seeing Trump skate away unpunished and unscathed after scandals and lies and morally bankrupt behavior.
His lack of ownership and contrition after said behaviors is abhorrent
13
@NGMN . . . and calling it "misbehavior" instead of lying, cheating and stealing doesn't explain the half of what he does.
3
This has less to do with impeachment than how rich people can shamelessly set up tax shelters and get a bunch of lawyers to avoid jail. If you are common thieve and get caught stealing a few hundred bucks, you end up in jail. When you are a rich guy like Trump, you get a slap on a wrist, and only need to pay back the stolen amount that were found out.
8
What’s that old line, “Steal a man’s money with a gun, they call you a robber. Steal a man’s money with a pen and they call you a banker”?
2
I wonder what Lindsay Graham, Meadows and the rest of them have to say about their fearless leader's moral compass and business acumen in light of this?
9
@WWW In private, or in public?
1
The most sickening thing about this is, many of the people who voted for Trump in 2016 are people who were or are out of work or underemployed and who are in need of a little assistance.
I can picture Trump sitting at his desk and rubbing his greasy little hands together, amused at the scam he devised to capture dollars that should have gone to people in need and put those dollars into his own pocket. It would make for a dark comedy if the whole affair wasn't so nauseating.
And THIS is what passes for a president ? THIS is the best the U.S. can dig up to lead our country ?
13
Just another cute little way the grifter-in-chief managed to siphon a few bucks to support his needy family.
I think the most absurd part of this story is where the Trump scions agree to "training" to avoid making similar mistakes misusing charities in the future. What is the good judge smoking? As though they didn't know exactly what they were doing the whole time? A little legal training will certainly set Ivanka straight!
12
Donations honorably offered up for Veterans turned into a private, UNLAWFUL piggy bank for Ivanka, Donald Trump Jr, and Donald Trump. UNBELIEAVALBE. EVERY VETERAN should see this article and end the LIES of him supporting veterans. All he did since being in office is try to take away my healthcare and NO JOKE, he tripled my copays which cost me three times more for necessary healthcare every year. RESIGN DONAL TRUMP. As a veteran, I am asking you to do the honorable thing on VETERAN'S DAY. You never served out of corrupt means of wealth an privilege. You never volunteered to go - RESIGN rather than steal from veterans.
12
"More than that, he has been compelled to publicly admit to having misled the public — and all those veterans for whom he professes to hold such respect."
What?! "To having MISLED the public"?! You can't say, "to having LIED to the public"?!
10
Ivy and/or Ivy like educated and we have to read this:
“In addition, his three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward.”
Honestly i don’t know why these universities are producing so many crooks and terrible human beings and they don’t rescind any diplomas.
7
Can't believe he has the nerve to head the parade. Hope it changes route and takes him directly to jail.
12
I am a retired Air Force Officer, a Vietnam vet, and a first generation American. I despise Trump.
22
"He also used foundation money to buy a $10,000 portrait of himself, which he displayed at one of his hotels."
This one statement speaks to who, what and is a Donald J Trump. Every thought, word, action, and feeling is preceded with the first-person, objective case pronoun 'Me'. "i.e." 'But a legal settlement announced on Thursday reveals that for Donald Trump, personal interest outranks even the needs of VETERANS.' Me has not a trace of a moral conscience for the god he serves is made of paper and coin.
Donald has been on a criminal crime spree his entire live. His wealth has been his 'get out of jail ticket'. I wait for the day when this subpar human looses reelection or is impeached. I wait for the day he takes his first step out of the People's House and meets his Gothic, the New York Attorney General office.
He is not sleeping at night for he knows that his greatest fear is mounting day-by-day; arrest, trial and conviction.
8
Could this rare admission of guilt be to keep his adult offspring out of jail?
So 'sweet' to know these 'children ' need 'training' to realise you are not allowed by law to steal money from charities.
6
There are more former military who have concluded that Mr. Bone Spurs' time is up, than you would have guessed. On Monday, Trump will begin his long march to the political gallows.
7
So it wasn't only the Russians who helped trump get elected...it was people giving to his "charity" too. How many other cons allowed this man to dupe the US public?
Hopefully it will ALL come out in the near future...
8
Oh my. What will Lindsey say?
Oh, that's right. He will probably choose not to read about this, just as he treats transcripts of Congressional testimony.
See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. Witch hunt. Hoax. Fraud.
Here are two words from & for those of us who do pay attention. Register. Vote.
12
"the House seems ready to accuse him of using the Pentagon budget for his own political ends."
Why so much surprise? From Day 1, at the nominating convention, Mike Bloomberg labelled the president as a con man, as did so many others with knowledge of his pathological absorbtion with himself.
When will the "real press" list all the grifter activities of his organization, from tax schemes, to fake universities, to fake charities, to fake casino bonds (one after the other), fake hair color, fake skin color, fake teeth veneers, fake golf scores, and faking the truth nearly every time he opens his mouth.
Thankfully, Mr. Bloomberg will take off the gloves and pummel the fake Electoral College president.
Looting the U.S. Treasury would be the greatest theft in all of history.
Why, please ask, would he appoint a character like Mulvaney to the dual posts of (1) head of the Office of Management and Budget, and (2) chief advisor at the White House, completing direct links to the U.S. Treasury, headed by close friend Steve Mnuchin
Think of a president looting the U.S. Treasury when his Attorney General rules that a president cannot be indicted for any crime whatsoever.
Think of a huge tax cut for the super-rich, who , in gratitude, kick back large chunks for campaigns and whatever.
Wait until he defaults on U.S. bonds held by the Chinese. That makes the Taj Mahal and other Trump Casinos' bankruptcies look like chump change. Surely the chumps in the Senate will celebrate it.
7
I know this has been said over and over again, but if ANY other president on our history had done this, they would be forced to resign by the morning. Trump's lawbreaking, unethical actions, and disgusting personal behavior come at us in such a daily torrent, nothing gets enough purchase to take him down. It is a problem the media and rival campaigns are going to have to confront, because they did not in 2016, and we saw the disastrous results. Maybe the clear blackmail he committed against the Ukrainian government will be a simple enough and potent enough crime/national security threat to focus the mind. Unfortunately, the Republicans in office seem determined to "no puppet, no puppet" this crime as well.
562
@AMinNC
As far as the Fabulous Forty Percent is concerned, this makes no difference and is probably Fake News. The Trump University fraud is surely Fake News. The many credible sexual misconduct allegations are all lies. His attacks on honorable servicemen ... McCain, the Gold Star family, Lt. Col. Vindman ... are warranted, and his draft dodging is not worthy of consideration.
NOTHING, repeat NOTHING, bothers them. They still love this morally repugnant and repellent individual and , and for the life of me, I cannot understand why.
58
@AMinNC - Perhaps the Democrats should put the puppet on trial & if his nose grows so big with every lie that he cannot fit out the exit door, then he will be impeached. After all, the Pinocchio paradox (or "liar's paradox) is based on the binary logic of truth or false. Whereas the GOP Trump enablers base their arguments on neither true or false absolute but rather ad hominum attacks which seek to distract, deflect & confuse the voters. Like the philosophical example of Buridan's bridge which undermined Socrates aphorisms. If the accused puppet in the impeachment trial is asked whether he would cross the bridge, don't listen to his reply but rather whether his nose elongates or he sweats * fidgets under the camera lights.
10
@AMinNC Don't forget the entire chant. "No puppet, no puppet- YOU the puppet!" :)
12
The national news media have generally not covered this story adequately. NBC Nightly News reported on the settlement agreement but consider this: they gave it two lines of reporting. TWO SENTENCES.
Anchor Lester Holt, otherwise an excellent news presenter, mentioned the agreement and said to the White House reporter, "What's that about?" Kristen Welker then uttered two lines that, to the casual viewer, made it seem like Trump was doing something good by pledging to give two million dollars to charities rather than being FORCED to give the money as part of the settlement.
This sloppy throw away amounted to journalistic malpractice by NBC News. This is typical, unfortunately, of how major national outlets treat Trump: they give him sound bites to attack and defend every day. Instead of doing a straight story about an issue, they tack his denials or attacks into every segment, sometimes making it seem like Trump's response is more important than the original item. Trump twists the major media around his little finger day after day.
The three evening newscasts on the major over-the-air networks are still watched by more than 20 million people each evening. No other media outlets come close in terms of their regular reach across America. None.
If Trump gets back in the White House in 2020, the major networks can take credit...or blame. They seem to be in the thank for Trump.
7
@Doug Terry . . . I had to search HARD to find it mentioned on PBS website and then it was an AP article! You'd think they at least would mention it.
3
@mouseone
Thanks for adding more information.
I am a lifelong journalist and confess I do not fully understand what is happening. Are the people who produce the network newscasts cowards? Are they afraid of Trump and the MAGA hats? It looks to me like Trump has "the enemy of the people" thoroughly intimidated by his tactics.
There is also the factor of just being overwhelmed by outrage and scandal, but this "charity" mess was a clear and completely adjudicated case of wrong doing. Any other president would have faced at least of week of continuing coverage. (Which makes the case for me that other presidents were mistreated.)
3
So Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric have agreed to undergo training to "help them avoid similar missteps" going forward? Missteps" -- as if they somehow inadvertently stole the donated money they said would go to help veterans and spent it on themselves? "Missteps"? What a bitter farce. What pablum. The Trump family has no moral compass and no amount of "training" will instill one in any of them, least of all the lifelong grifter and liar who heads it. This is willful criminal behavior, not a misstep.
834
@Mhmllr - I wonder if all the Trump legal fees for the past years of trying to dodge the NY lawsuit were pulled out of the foundation as a 'justifiable expense' thus deflating the corpus of the now defunct foundation?
Nothing is beyond these vile creatures. Nothing. So when the end finally comes, I vote for "NO MERCY!"
34
@Mhmllr Obviously they had to do it as ordered by the court. But chances are they will have every excuse to put it off as long as trump has control of our country.
Would be great if they are held in contempt as they probably will deserve it.
20
@Mhmllr
And Don Jr. was at Arlington Cemetery pondering the sacrifices his father has made. (Ponder that.)
39
I am sure someone knows this and I would like to know. During the life of the "foundation": (a) much money went into it and from what sources? (b) how much money was paid out of it and to what entities or persons and for what purposes? and (c) how much money remained in the foundation when it was dissolved? I can find no reporting that gives this information. For example, if Donald Trump actually contributed $10M to the foundation during its life and the foundation actually paid out most of that money to worthy charities, I would look at this story differently.
1
You need to read the reporting during the campaign. As memory serves Trump put some £50,000 into the foundation a decade earlier, the rest was money donated to the foundation from others. It’s part of why it’s so shocking he’s been able to keep $800,000 of the money. It wasn’t his to start with. I remember some sonars were outraged where their money had gone. Yet there was one guy who said it didn’t bother him that Trump had claimed he personally had given money to charity that wasn’t his. That £50,000 over a decade ago was the only donation Trump made before the one detailed in this article
2
Fugget about Dee Jay Trump. He's not the most amazing. The stunningly amazing thing is his allowances. He has been allowed to break countless laws over many years. Obviously he is not the problem. He merely is the epicenter of tolerated lawlessness. It is amazing all about him has happened in a political economy that calls itself 'a rule of law'. Perhaps the amazing thing is the expanding cadre of amoral lawyers protecting him; and not to fugget the once honorable Government of the People party.
5
No thought by Trump would be a better headline. He is an idiot savant. The only thing he can do well is to be a con man.
9
The Editorial Board deserves congratulations for revivng the idea of cold coins as legal tender. Each denomination would have the likeness of one President, and Trump's image would be on one of the cheaper ones. It will be up to the Treasury to design 45 gold coins of different denominations.
1
In other parts of the world, like Canada, private prosecutions are permitted. It’s a similar procedure to the Grand jury in the US except that it takes place before a judge and the prosecutor is the victim.
There are many reasons why cops don’t press charges, some good some very bad. Here, if I had donated money, and that money had served to buy a painting and the cops weren’t doing much about it, I would take matters in my own hands. I would charge the guy, president or not, with fraud.
6
i think the judge was too linient to settle the case. this man so called our president has no shame in cheating our public fund in the name deceiving charity foundation. it is not a single case. Mr. trump had to settle many of those personal fraudulant cases and his family (gang of three) blames the media and the left to expose themselves. one should look back his life and analyze his total business practice including tax return to find out how many more cheating cases including discriminating minorities and small business owners he based his life on. more than 5/10 such cases should prove that he has a history of cheating and should be charged accordingly. such kind of false claims should disqualify him to be a sitting president - forget about the probe of congress. we need a constitutional change to punish such president in future.
8
Did I miss the public admission of guilt by Trump? All that has been reported is the President saying he was 'happy to make a charitable donation of $2 million'. It is not a charitable donation. It is a fine ordered by the court to correct his fraud.
Trump rolls merrily along in his own world playing the victim of horrible abuses by the elite leftist deep state.
Repeating HIS statements endlessly only support his narrative.
The court should write the appropriate tweet for Trump and compel him to let it out into the public.
19
He (trump) should be held in contempt of court for spouting off after the verdict.
2
I read an article last night that Putin has invited Trump to his military parade, and Trump said he would love to go if he could because it would be a great parade... Trump and those helping him should be in jail, they should not get a free pass, history books should be written to show what is still being documented at this point as a warning as to what can happen. I trust everything will be okay and good people will prevail, however don't make any mistake that we are at war, some of the enemy we can see, some we can't. As for Trump himself, he is the sad puppet of mobsters he owes money to, he reminds me of the condo scammers of the 1980's, he should do the right thing and come clean, have some dignity.
8
Knowledge about Mr. Trump and his deplorable shenanigans in every sphere of his life and his unsavory character is certainly out there sufficiently such that reason and rationality should not only support his failure in the reelection process and the success in his impeachment by the House and trial in the Senate. What is not understood or known is what it would take to convert the emotional investment that his supporters have in him from where they stand now to acceptance of a posture in keeping with reason and an acceptance of an understanding that he personally and the agenda he espouses is just plain BAD. People are not dumb. There is widespread knowledge of his character failures. But, how to change emotional investment is the question at hand. Obviously, it's not simple. It's never easy to change feelings.
8
If Trump was a regular worker, and stole money from a company or charity, they would be charged with embezzlement, and most likely be in prison. But, because Trump is part of the 1% elite, he gets a slap on the wrist. Anyone think that it will be different with Bloomberg?
7
Despite Trump's shameless use of the veterans for his own profit, the incomprehensible irony is that a majority of military personnel, both retired and active, support Trump regardless of his personal character and lack of decency.
8
Many of us were and still are of the realization that Trump is a grifter, a gifted and skilled con artist, and as the piece states, in for himself.
When he graced the business scene several years ago with his triumphant, well, not so much, casino venture many shrugged and others asked how soon to bankruptcy before the casinos failed.
When Trump blessed us, well not so much, in his emergence into politics with the "birther" scree, many of us wrote him off as a crackpot. However, that crackpot convinced enough voters to help elevate him into our highest elected office, and disgrace that office with his lack of knowledge, with his bombast, and with his "me first, all others too bad".
And with this settlement he has deflected the crookedness of his actions and given the apologists comments on this forum continues to rally the troops and now has those supporters calling for the prosecutor's heads on pikes.
Yes, many of us did know of Trump's actions in the business world. Some successful, many more not very successful and he left the burden of failure on the lenders, investors and employees.
But, Trump suffered little.
Yes, in Trumplandia it is Trump first, and let the masses eat cake.
11
They should have made him paint "fraud" on the
portrait and them destroy it
in a public shaming ceremony.
9
Being impeached, convicted by the senate and being put in prison is much better than Donald Trump deserves. Just my opinion.
6
If he did contribute 19 Million to Charities, let him show the evidence that the contributions were actually made.
13
It is such a crazy time we are in thanks to our esteemed leader. At any other point, such a story would bring the house down -- an Alice-in-Wonderland twist on how the world should be.
But in Trump-land, this is but one more detour in the labyrinth we're lost in. I expect a few politicians to be caught up in scandals and brought to task -- but at 71, I never thought I'd live to see an American president of such far-reaching hypocrisy, greed, and self-dealing.
If the electoral college and the public grant this man four more years, I can only imagine that he and the Republicans will serve up a further reshaping of the court system so that he -- and others like him -- will not be shamed again by such embarrassing judgments like the one reported here. By that point -- the Mad Hatters Tea Party of our country will really be in shambles.
15
trump supporters will take up the chant of how relentlessly the president is targeted by those who wanted hillary to be president, how generous he has been to the victims of trump u, and what great work his charity did before trump haters shut it down. They don't want to be dragged out of their cocoon of fantasy.
10
The lawsuit was a sham. How can the prosecutor say the officers seldom met, when the officers were Trump family members? How much money was spent promoting the Clinton Foundation while she was running for offices? Were those illegal campaign expenditures that benefited her? Throw an international “summit”, charge huge admission cost, and you get to chum it up with the Clinton’s. Is that charity, or a political shakedown? All the access to the Clinton’s was a charitable contribution, tax deductible, not a political function? How much money did that charity pay to WJC compadres to keep their machine running? If Trump’s charity was a piggy bank, Clinton’s was an international bank.
1
@Jay Please provide empirical evidence that supports your hypothesis.
Otherwise, it is just fiction, as Trump's foundation was.
28
The usual whataboutism when faced with trying to defend the indefensible.
15
Two wrongs make a right?
2
The man should be prosecuted to the law's full extent. He should learn what really makes this country great. He should know there are no phony clauses in the Constitution of this nation.
12
What about the Sanity Clause?
Trump failed to mention that very little of the foundation's money came from him or his companies.
17
@Barry Short
Trump didn't contribute a penny to his own "foundation" for the past 12+ years. Most "donations" came from the McMahon family of WWE wrestling. On Wednesday (Dec., 2016), Trump announced that he has selected former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon to head his Small Business Administration. McMahon is the wife of billionaire WWE promoter, Vincent McMahon, whose net worth FORBES estimates at $1.16 billion.
The couple cofounded WWE, which now has a market capitalization of $1.5 billion, more than three decades ago. According to WWE's most recent annual report, Linda McMahon personally owns $84 million in WWE stock. She served as CEO from 1997 until 2009, when she stepped down to pursue public office. Her unsuccessful U.S. Senate runs as a Republican in Connecticut in 2010 and 2012 cost the couple an estimated $100 million.
6
It would be nice to be able to react with disbelief and think this impossible behavior coming from our president.
It is not; more like this is completely within character for the man--just another in a long line of sordid behaviors.
9
If DT got any tax write-offs for "financing" those charities — not paying some taxes he would otherwise have had to pay — he was in fact stealing government money, money that in fact belonged to the citizens of the USA. Gives "populist" a new twist, doesn't it?
11
I look at him and wonder if he has ever thought about the price we all pay for those we hurt along the way.
Life, for me, is about honest reflection on not only our sins of commission but our sins of omission.
We struggle to be better people. To listen more than we speak. To feel more than we think. To stare life in the face and not to blink. To be honest. To be true. To not only see but to embrace every hue. To be kind. To be gentle. To give of ourselves.
Who are we as a people that has brought us to a place where this man has become our nominal leader?
I only pray that at some point those who have turned their backs on their better selves will awaken from their slumber, take a long, cold look in the mirror, and honestly answer the question, "Do you like what you see?"
Have your hearts become so hardened that you cannot see how corrupt it is for someone to accept donations for a charity advertised to help our veterans and then use the money to help himself?
And, for those who claim the name of the one who said, "For every tree is known by its fruit. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks," how can you cast your lot with a man who time and time again out of the evil treasure of his heart speaks venom, division, deception, falsehood, and blasphemy?
Evil must be called out as evil!
19
Please, let's end the fiction that Trump was ever a "businessman" -- or worse, a "self-made man."
It's all fraud upon fraud, tax evasion, using lawyers to harass and exhaust his victims.
26
One day when the Trump empire truly collapses, and it will, Trump Tower will be home to real charities and to non-profits, and museums and learning centers on tolerance and truth in media, and also house homeless shelters on the 57th floor (which actually is not really the 57th floor -- but we'll accept that fib for being quaint and harmless).
4
This is just the tip of the iceberg. Just wait until his income taxes and business dealings are thoroughly investigated by New York and, hopefully, the IRS and FBI after he leaves office.
10
Who is going to make Trump pay? He has shown disrespect for every branch of government and he knows there is no one who will be able to force him to pay up. What are they going to do if he doesn’t come through as ordered by the court? Throw him in jail? Hardly. So he will get away with this, too. Where were all of these crusaders when he wasn’t president, the office of which he is using now as a shield from any legal accountability? And why, oh why, has he been invited to officiate the Veterans Day Parade? Not only does he disrespect them, along with everyone else but his children, he will most likely use the podium that day to air his usual list of grievances.
9
As a student of American history I’m at a loss to understand this current president’s morality. It appears that the world of finance from which trump was suckled has created a structure that relegates morality into a binary worldview of winners and losers.
He reminds me of a plant that hasn’t gotten enough sun and as a consequence must contort his life as a dwarf character, forever confusing media exposure with Being.
10
@Bruce South of the border many believe in "blood sport". Not the gladiator games of days past, but in the way Trump treats his enemies. One only need to watch a few episodes of reality television where contestants are back stabbing to see who leaves the island.
It is the same in Trumplandia and the grifter from Queens thrives on the spilled blood and carnage.
And the masses flock to the blood-soaked arena to receive their loaves of bread.
Trump has no morals, no ethics and little care of mankind.
He, Trump, is content to continue the blood-letting as long as he benefits first, and foremost.
2
Fined $2 million? That's pocket money for a multi-billionaire like Trump, isn't it? Sure he embezzled funds from his own phony charity. But in his defense, that's not even in the top ten list of his greatest high crimes and misdemeanors.
5
Trump has no devotion to the military-who would ever invite him to participate in a Veteran’s Day event? He is more devoted to his wall than he is to the military-he appropriated 3.6billion dollars from military construction projects to add money for wall building.He recently gave troops bordering Turkey no notice of withdrawal so they had to beat a hasty and undignified retreat.I remember the scam of raising money for veterans at the start of his campaign-that was a huge red flag.The fact that he would not honor John McCain, a great military hero, is the darkest of dark stains on his presidency.Two million seems a pittance to atone for his cruel, selfish money grubbing behavior.At this very moment he is using taxpayer funds to enhance his life style.How many think that the huge sums for secret service are justified as he shuttles from one golf club to the next , all the while advertising his properties and making certain they are utilized for government functions.!
7
Is there never a time when Trump can admit wrongdoing without immediately concocting a story in a flimsy attempt to bend the truth (or break it)?
Nah, didn't think so.
9
A wealthy man goes down the street during winter, sees a Salvation Army red kettle, reaches into the kettle and steals the money. Lowlife, am I right? Trump sets up a foundation to help veterans and the needy, collects other peoples money, uses it for himself. I would like a Trump supporter to explain to me how these two people, one imaginary, one real, are any different.
17
I have a family member who is a Trump voter/supporter, his answer to this “everybody does it, they’re only going after Trump because they don’t like him”.
To his supporters he will always be the victim, ripping off charities is irrelevant. In their eyes he can do no wrong, and will never do any wrong.
Good luck getting that 2 million, my guess is that will never be paid.
8
Am I allowed to make a joke about the subtitle and mushrumps?
Asking for a friend.
I'd venture a guess that the average IQ of those who voted for Trump is about 10-15% lower than those who didn't. Consequently, the Trump voters are more challenged to comprehend the issues. They prefer Fox to the NYT.
It's depressing to be an astute American these days. Fortunately, I have the means to live outside the country and observe the absurdity without being subjected to the slings and arrows of the outrageous fortune that has befallen the US and its citizens.
8
When I read a sordid tale like this I can’t help but to wonder if people voted for Trump
BECAUSE he is a con man.
They said they wanted a “businessman” to run the country. But why would anyone trust a businessman with that many failures and bankruptcies?
He is a con man but he is THEIR con man, one who will get on Democrats’ nerves. That’s why they elected him.
11
Trump will likely use campaign funds to cover this.
6
It's a shame he can just buy his way out of this. It's like the fake university, where he could commit an egregious crime and get away with it simply by 'settling' the case.
Will this man ever truly be held responsible for his actions like most people? I'm thinking there are thousands of American people in jail for crimes much less harmful to society. Let's hope his 'get out of jail pass' will soon expire.
8
Fraud - is that impeachable?
Can you imagine the outcry if Obama had admitted to this?
Didn't Trump try to accuse the Clintons of the same - before those chants.
8
I'm so angry, I'm crying.
Madoff is in prison for defrauding charities and his children are dead. But Trump's children are doing "training"?
Even Martha Stewart served time for her financial crimes. But Trump is President and Mnuchin is Secretary of the Treasury?
I'm so angry, I'm crying.
21
Please print the full confession so we can read exactly what Trump was forced to admit- front page, above the fold. Hopefully every newspaper in America will reprint it and it will run as a campaign ad in the next election. People need to see the truth about this con man. I wish the judge had made him read it on camera for the entire country to hear from his own mouth.
12
Any possibility you could print the exact amounts of how the Trump foundation spent the money? I would also like to know who contributed (were defrauded) to his Foundation.
What about IRS penalties?
7
This is criminal tax fraud as well. I wonder whether this was settled with the state? Trump should consider Resigning and getting immunity from Billy Barr On the federal level if it wouldn’t be covered by a pardon
5
More taxes should be collected so it's not wasted on private foundations.
Foundations aren’t accountable to the public. And for every Ford Foundation there’s a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. I mean, just because someone is extremely wealthy doesn't mean he's capable of overseeing fundamental, civic obligations such as health care, education, and such.
If Melanie Walker who has been friends with Jeffrey Epstein for nearly three decades, after he flattered her by dangling a Victoria's Secrets modeling job and Boris Nikolic who was such a trusted buddy that he was named as Epstein's fallback estate executor, worked for a government agency they would be held accountable for directing millions of dollars to Epstein.
But because they worked for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, nothing happened to them, other than some notoriety among weekend New York Times readers. They get to carry on with their careers in the non-profit and academic sector as if it's perfectly OK to give a convicted child rapist, who didn't seem to have been reformed, social and financial capital.
Not to say Mr. Acosta as Florida’s AG behaved morally but at least he got fired in the end.
Just last year trump settled the trump u fraud for 25 million. This charity scam is his 2nd fraud settlement in as many years.
Future generations will view this time as a dark and troubling passage.
11
This is how Trump fits right in with the televangelists and their religious nonprofits and private jets.
The evangelicals view him as a victim too! But oh The Clinton Foundation, an actual worthy foundation with a 92.40 rating on Charity Navigator, is corrupt in their view!
7
I had a hearty but bitter laugh when I read that Trump wrote a $7 check from his charity to the Boy Scouts for little Barron’s troupe fees. How cheap can you get?
9
I want to know about the follow through, and if he really pays up.
3
Pvt. Bone-spur should not be part of our Veteran's Day celebration.
11
If he were a Veteran he could have kept the money all
to himself.
2
It is a great thing that the NY Times has given this space, with these strong words, in regard to the scam Trump ran with his foundation. But...
The national news media have generally not covered this story adequately. NBC Nightly News reported on the settlement agreement but consider this: they gave it two lines of reporting. TWO SENTENCES by their White House reporter as a tag on a story about other matters.
Anchor Lester Holt, otherwise an excellent news presenter, mentioned the agreement and said to the White House reporter, "What's that about?" Kristen Welker then uttered two lines that, to the casual viewer, made it seem like Trump was doing something good by pledging to give two million dollars to charities rather than being FORCED to give the money as part of the agreement.
This sloppy throw away amounted to journalistic malpractice by NBC News. This, however, is typical of how major national outlets treat Trump: they give him sound bites to attack and defend every day. Instead of doing a straight story about an issue, they tack his denials or attacks into every segment, sometimes making it seem like the attack is more important than the original item.
NBC, having created the Trump cult with its entertainment programming, bears a special responsibility to report straight.
Apparently, NBC and the other major networks (ABC/CBS) are afraid of Trump. They let him get away with murder, always giving him bouquets of airtime, again and again.
7
The worst part about this episode is that it doesn't even come as least bit a surprise. This guy wears what he is on his sleeve and doesn't pretend to care about anything that doesn't reflect back from whatever mirror he's looking at. I think each and every one of our country's founders is turning cartwheels in their graves at the thought of someone so willing to sacrifice country and Constitution for self is actually holding this country's highest elected office. This is a travesty the Democrats need to rub in the face of the electorate until the enabling and equally reckless Republican Party is dissolved before they push this country over the edge into a nose dive into the abyss.
4
"...he has been compelled to publicly admit to having misled the public — and all those veterans for whom he professes to hold such respect."
This should be on the front page of every newspaper in America and the in depth top story of every news television and radio broadcast.
6
Donald Jr., Eric & Ivanka will also have to undergo formal training not to steal, not to lie, not to cheat, not to betray the US and not to abuse stray animals in the streets.
Because, really, who knew?
8
This was a media miss. There should have been major headlines and announcements all over the place about the settlement to this shameless scam, but it was treated as a side issue.
Now Trump will blort out more garbled nonsense about being too busy with his duties as president to appear in front of some vindictive Obama judge and instead will part with a piddling $2,000,000 out of his hundreds of billions so he can continue to make America great.
And his loyal fans will send a few bucks to help him out.
7
@KJ Sports have fans - Trump has followers. And agree - this should have been made a bigger deal by the media, but we so accustomed to the daily horrors from this president** that it's treated as just another Trump disaster.
3
Private Bonespurs certainly has the bonafides of someone who deeply hates our military. Many instances including this one attest to that. He should have been sentenced to cleaning latrines. It builds character.
6
I'm fatigued of wealthy folks getting minimal fines while poor folks get jail time.
6
Corruption is as corruption does.
This case is not an example of Trump facing negative consequences as a result of his illegal activity. It’s the exact opposite.
Think about what actually happened. Trump was able to:
- use his “foundation” as a slush fund for 2 decades; get credit for “donating” in support of veterans at the time of the rally (when it really mattered to his candidacy);
- have much of the public believe that all politician’s charities are the same (Trump Foundation, Clinton Foundation ... it’s all so confusing, they must both be bad);
- keep the bogus Clinton Foundation story alive throughout the campaign (try find one single article from 2016 on the Trump Foundation that didn’t also mention the Clinton Foundation “controversies”);
- claim yet again to be the victim of harassment by the FAKE NEWS media and the Democrats; and,
- publicly claim that he what he stipulated to in court wasn’t true on the very day the settlement hit the news.
He also didn’t face any meaningful consequences for the tax evasion or the campaign finance violations that this settlement essentially proves Trump to be guilty of as well.
Given all of this, the $2 million it cost him was actually a bargain, or - as some might put it - quite a steal.
4
Using charitable fund foundation money for self promotion -is that not a tax fraud, a FEDERAL Crime? Should he not be prosecuted for that?
9
Once again the Trump's have bought off the system to avoid jail time and having felonies on their records!
Not only do the Trump's deserved jail time for what they did, but they should be tagged as felons for the rest of their miserable lives for the crime(s) they've clearly committed.
The Trump's have escaped the "justice" system over and over again, allowing them to pretend to be a legitimate family even to the point that America now has a criminal president! This is what comes from allowing criminals to buy their way around the system, circumventing the law.
In America, wealthy people are above the law. And not only is this illegitimate "president" above the law, but so is his entire family.
8
Unfortunately, it's likely that many of the veterans will believe that Trump was again the victim of another conspiracy against him by the deep state, aided and abetted by the fake media and by liberal elitists. They should ask themselves - why did none of the several Republican presidents preceding Trump ever complain that they were targets of witch hunts?
4
Trump’s charade described herein reminds me of Stanley Donen’s film of the same name. To paraphrase one of Audrey Hepburn’s lines therefrom, Trump can’t even be honest about being dishonest.
4
President Trump is motivated by money.
Trump owes billions to Putin’s oligarchs.
Two plus two equals 4 ever Putin’s puppet.
If we can’t do that math, we get what we deserve.
7
And Trump has recently stuffed his fingers in his ears and ordered the White House subscriptions to the Washington Post and New York Times cancelled because he can't handle the truth contained in those two excellent publications' reporting.
Listen, Trump. As the famous Joe Louis said to an opponent cornered and about to receive the full weight of his punches -- "You can run but you can't hide."
Speaking of that corner, there are fewer and fewer people willing to be in yours.
5
I was at the parade two years ago taking photographs. My favorite image is of an enormous Versace poster of a seductively placed female thigh draped only partially by black silk. It hovered above their store front as dozens of soldiers marched underneath.
This to me epitomizes the Trump phenomena; guns and lives for sale as long as the proletariat is in service to the oligarch. It is a fitting image for the city that literally created Trump.
4
Yes, except all of his blind supporters will know only what he tells them, i.e., that he gave $19 million to charity, that he is being attacked for it, that he loves veterans and did a fund raiser (but not what actually happened to the money), and that those terrible liberals are out to get this very good man. The only genius of Donald Trump is that he has managed to snooker a segment of the population into believing that he and only he tells them "the truth."
6
How such a person became President of the United States of America is quite beyond me.
4
"for Donald Trump, personal interest outranks even the needs of veterans"
For Donald Trump, personal interest outranks EVERYTHING.
4
The NYT today is full of stories which, read together, support the candidacy of a moderate Democrat -- including one not yet officially in the field. There is this story which brings to mind Brett Stephen's column pointing out that Mike Bloomberg has given away more money to charity ($ 6 billion) than Trump has ever had. And there is Timothy Egan's sobering column about how ideological "woke" candidates will help Trump win.
So now try to imagine a 2020 presidential campaign video contrasting all the good Bloomberg has done with his philanthropy (especially for gun control and the environment) with Trump using his "foundation" to buy himself a $10,000 portrait -- of himself. Kind of makes you think seriously about a Bloomberg candidacy.
2
Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech; which is the right of every man as far as by it he does not hurt or control the right of another; and this is the only check it ought to suffer and the only bounds it ought to know.... Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freedom of speech, a thing terrible to traitors.
Benjamin Franklin
Thank you, NYT, PBS, BBC, AP and all of the other pillars of the Fourth Estate.
4
I am glad the New York Attorney General’s Office has held Trump and his family accountable for this sham charity. However, I am extremely upset that this was not investigated and dealt with many years ago by the IRS and the New York AG. It would’ve saved this country a lot of grief. Too little, too late.........
7
Is that a commemorative tRump plug nickel?
He can turn gold into lead!
I have the image of a giant sow pushing pigs away from their slop meals. Instead of slop I see Big Mac containers, french fry boxes, and empty cola cups.
It has no fairness or sharing. Its reasoning is that it built the pig sty, so is entitled to eat all it wants.
At what point are the pigs going to turn on the sow?
3
Trump's "charity" foundation was essentially a slush fund he used to pay for things like government fines and portraits of himself. It was as phony as his Trump University. And of Trump himself.
4
Every piece of “news” about this man brings us back to mental illness. Narcissistic personality disorder. Is not a question of his lack if morality abs ethics. He has literally no ability to care about others. And, he’s in charge of public welfare. Period.
4
No matter how debased or vile the grand swindler is, the Republicans will support him and do their best to keep him in office. Their agenda is to corrupt the judicial system in their favor, which will keep them in power for the next 40 years.
4
"In addition, his three oldest children — Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward."
This must be satire. I wonder what kind of "training" they will have, and who will enlightened these ciphers.
Be real for one moment: The only training that might affect them is hard jail time.
7
So ... he basically just admitted to embezzlement of funds and violating campaign finance law. When is the criminal trial? Lock Him Up!
9
This Iowa veteran knew at the time of that 2016 “fundraiser” in my home town that it was nothing more than another grift, all the more shameless for its exploitation of my fellow vets. That any veteran anywhere could support this man after this sordid scam would be tantamount to spitting on one’s own service. Now if only my fellow Iowa veteran Senator Joni Ernst would raise her voice against this outrage. I’m not holding my breath on that.
5
As a former New Yorker and Manhattanite, I was aware of how Mr. Trump operated. I wasn't alone. 88% of Manhattanites voted against Trump in 2016. Nothing in this article surprises me. What disgusts me is the president's Republican defenders talking about coups and the Dems undermining Trump's legitimate election. Well, it was legitimate in the Electoral College, where Trump garnered about 50,000 more votes in 5 or 6 states than his opponent. But I still can't figure out why his opponent, who garnered a record 3,000,000 vote plurality in 50 states isn't our president. Can you???
4
I hope we in NYS can review his income taxes whom King Trump is trying so very hard to hide,... Why?
3
Whatever the President has to say on Veterans Day will definitely be not watch TV for this veteran.
2
Proof upon proof of what this man is and yet his believers persist. For the nation’s future a more effective wake up call must be found.
2
How come that when corporations, CEO's and other bigwigs are finally caught in illegal activity which brings them millions upon millions, they are fined a pittance? Why are judges so lenient with them when they send young men to jail for years for having one gram of drugs. Moreover, the money that they eventual pay isn't even theirs, but to stockholders who had nothing to do with the infraction. Shouldn't the fine be large enough to dissuade people from repeating the crime?
3
Yet, many of those same veterans he swindled will cheer him and pledge their support for him and argue he kept his promises to make the military great again.
3
Cheating charities is the essence of Donald Trump. So is his uncanny knack of staying one step ahead of the law. But I take heart that justice will prevail. Trump can run but he can't hide.
6
As long as Foundations delivered enough making significant improvements in peoples' lives covering a role Govs or failed to or unable of they remain valuable.4 instance Clinton's,Bush's,Carter's,B.G.'s,Buffet's.Turner's,etc. are such Foundational missions.Foundations have an Org running costs:holding events, rounding up potential donors,etc. and so they r not expected to spend every penny on those who are in need of help.For instance The Clint Found had a tradition of holding gatherings around the UNGA's ritual Sept meetings in NYC.NYC being the World's capital this gathering draws highly valuable publicity to worthy global causes in addition to assistances it used to provide.Was it necessary to stage a drive to make it defunct?,may be Pres DT's found did spent the Found's money for urgent Camp needs deciding it will restore it.However, a worthy Found needn't have to be the sacrificial lamb.TMD,.
@Tefera Worku
Trump's Foundation needed to be defunct because he was using it to raise money under false pretenses (e.g. for veterans), shelter his income from taxes, to illegally help fund his political campaign, and to feed his own ego (e.g. having a portrait painted of himself to hang in his hotel). He is lucky he didn't have to serve time in jail. You stated: "a worthy Found needn't have to be the sacrificial lamb." The reality is that his was not a "worthy" foundation.
2
@Tefera Worku It was definitely not a worthy found!
2
“Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers— agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward.”
These were not “missteps,” they were criminal activity pure and simple, and I fail to understand why the Trump progeny were not forced to admit misconduct as well as their larcenous father. Every time I think about how Don Jr. and Ivanka were able to avoid indictment in the Trump SoHo hotel scandal in 2010, when there was clear email evidence of them misleading investors and buyers about the value and occupancy of the hotel and their efforts to “coordinate false information,” it makes my blood boil.
Cheating, scamming and influence peddling are part of the Trump family DNA and no amount of “training” will ever change that.
19
What! No jail time? A lawyer in my town was sentenced to six years in prison for writing ONE CHECK from his non-profit and depositing it into his personal account. This is justice?
22
If it’s not reported on by Fox News, then it didn’t happen in Trump world. His approval ratings with Veterans and Republicans will remain solid.
7
“ I’m shocked, shocked that gambling is going on in this room.”
Claude Rains as the police inspector in the film Casablanca just before accepting his own gambling winnings.
Is anyone actually still surprised that Trump is exactly what he acts like he is?
7
Dear Republicans,
Please explain to me how you support this guy. Do you really care about this country? Does nothing rise to the level of unacceptable? I am old enough to remember when Russians were our mortal enemies. Now they are celebrated by Republicans at the highest levels (Moscow Mitch) - the very same Republicans who will be crying "Socialism" through out the election.
11
Charity? Let's talk charity, because I got to "feel" what don jr II clearly stated the devastating sacrifice of his entire family. I am led to believe the family's great "sacrifice" is almost charity like in its toll of trump family suffering at the hands of things like the American people, the law, and the Constitution.
But what can I say to tie charity work to trump family sacrifice?
I was searching for that "cornerstone" so to speak until I realized don jr II had already given it to the American people! We can now compare the trump family charity work and family sacrifice, especially don jr II, to all those brave souls in Arlington National Cemetery.
How did I not think of that? In today's America that should have been obvious. I mean really, the analogy was so plain to see. Our Nations finest buried in the Nations most hallowed ground, Memorial Day is Monday, and we get to read about don jr IIs realization of his families sacrifices while he drove past the Arlington National Cemetery.
Happy Memorial Day Americans. Try to remember the sacrifice and charity of all Americans, not just the horrible sacrifice of the trump family.
4
Veteran’s Day...not Memorial Day.
1
I wonder if Trump will end up like Howard Hughes. He slowly lost his mind, controlled billions in seclusion and gave a couple of thousand dollars to charity. He dropped off the face of the earth. Unfortunately, that is where the comparison ends. Trumps thrives on public attention to feed his immature ego, Hughes didn’t trust anyone and just wanted to be alone. He watched movies over and over for hours. Well now wait, solitary confinement, a TV and reruns of “The Apprentice”...one can only hope.
5
And when he is rightly booed at the parade, all we will hear about for days is that his critics lack civility. This man thinks grift is smart and that any gesture towards decency is saintly. Someone has to let him know he’s wrong.
10
I wish the court had been able to stipulate that if the president maligned the ruling in the media, the penalty would be quadrupled.
At least in criminal cases, convicts are sentenced to a degree based upon their expressions of remorse and contrition. Perhaps that is how this case should have been tried, at least against those Trump children on the board, since the president is currently immune.
Am I crazy to think that if I had committed 1/100th of the deceit that is evident in the undertakings of the Foundation, I would be in a federal prison?
8
Trump will probably use the $2 million fine as a publicity stunt, to show his beneficence, and handily leave out the fact that it represents punishment for fraud.
As to his $19 million in charitable giving, over an unspecified amount of time, it's a small number for a man who claims such large wealth. Would like to see the receipts from who he has allegedly donated to.
5
The crimes were pretty blatant, so why no criminal charges? Are they waiting until he's out of office?
6
Trump will probably use the $2 million fine as a publicity stunt, to show his beneficence, and handily leave out the fact that it represents punishment for fraud.
As to his $19 million in charitable giving, over an unspecified amount of time, it's a small number for a man who claims such large wealth. Would like to see the receipts from who he has allegedly donated to.
1
Legally cannot run or sit on the board of a charity, but he can run the country? Only in America.
12
From the article: "Despite his admissions of misconduct, Mr. Trump made clear who he thought was the victim in the case — himself. 'I am the only person I know, perhaps the only person in history, who can give money to charity ($19M), charge no expense, and be attacked by the political hacks in New York State,' he tweeted Thursday evening in a statement about the settlement.
But you didn't give the money to charity - unless you really believe charity begins at home and it's only for you, No. 45. I apologize to the readers - I can't call him Mr. President or by his name.
7
Who in their right mind would entrust dollars they intend for charity to Donald Trump? If you truly wish to donate money to veterans, there are so many worthy organizations doing excellent and selfless work on their behalf.
It all boils down to yet another Trump family scam: Giving money intended for veterans to a fake foundation run by a man who dodged the draft with a fake foot injury.
7
Pause for a moment to recall the purely reflexive and revealing incident when president Trump brazenly shoved the prime minister of Montenegro aside to pose for the cameras.
That offense was so revealing because it was done without thought or reflection; pure Trump on display. Reptilian Trump.
The thought that this same person would establish and facilitate a charity, strictly for the benefit of others and with no intended benefits for himself, is absurd bordering on delusional. Anyone familiar with Trump's (actual) history realizes that any purported charitable activities under his name would have ulterior motives and be funded by others. There should be a zero surprise factor here.
4
This case proves that Mr Trump is at the top of the white privilege food chain - lesser criminals would find themselves in much hotter water. "Training" for his kids so they don't use a charity for their own gain in the future? What about the basic toddler 101 training - the difference between right and wrong - that the Trumps have neglected to do, apparently for generations!
6
I just wish Judge Scarpulla had required Trump to go on TV - maybe CNN - and read aloud from the "shocking pattern of illegality" in the "detailed admission of misconduct" he agreed to in settling this case.
6
“ Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric, all of whom were foundation officers — agreed to undergo training to help them avoid similar missteps going forward”
Really? They need training to tell the difference between what belongs to them and what doesn’t? I bet if you tried to take something that was theirs from them they wouldn’t need any training.
7