Trump Foundation donations went to charities that held events at Mar-a-Lago: report

Donations made by President Trump’s foundation largely went to charities that hosted galas at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, according to an analysis by the Palm Beach Post published Friday.

The Post reviewed the Donald J. Trump Foundation’s tax records dating back to 2008 and found that a vast majority of the $706,000 distributed by the charity went to groups that chose to hold opulent events at the president’s private resort.

{mosads}The Post found that the foundation gave donations of generally $25,000 to eight charities after they relocated their events to Mar-a-Lago.

Charity leaders and event planners told the newspaper that the donations were a surprise and had nothing to do with their decision to change locations to the Palm Beach resort, denying any tit-for-tat business dealings.

The Post noted that charities’ decision to switch locations for annual galas can result in a logistical headache, including finding and working with new vendors and management.

The Trump Foundation is facing intense scrutiny after New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood (D) filed a lawsuit against the charity last month, alleging that it repeatedly violated state and federal law.

The lawsuit claims that the charity was used to promote Trump’s private businesses and his presidential campaign, also alleging that Trump requested foundation funds be used to settle a case between the city of Palm Beach, Fla., and Mar-a-Lago.

The complaint seeks to dissolve the foundation, as well as for Trump and his children to be temporarily blocked from serving in other charities in New York.

Trump has promised to fight the lawsuit in court.

Several charities chose to pull their annual events from Mar-a-Lago after Trump’s comments last year placing blame on “both sides” for the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va.