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Donald Trump paid the IRS a $2,500 penalty this year, an official at Trump's company said, after it was revealed that Trump's charitable foundation had violated tax laws by giving a political contribution to a campaign group connected to Florida's attorney general.
The improper donation, a $25,000 gift from the Donald J. Trump Foundation, was made in 2013. At the time, Attorney General Pam Bondi was considering whether to investigate fraud allegations against Trump University. She decided not to pursue the case.
Earlier this year, The Washington Post and a liberal watchdog group raised new questions about the three-year-old gift. The watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, filed a complaint with the IRS — noting that, as a registered nonprofit, the Trump Foundation was not allowed to make political donations.
The Post reported another error, which had the effect of obscuring the political gift from the IRS.
In that year's tax filings, The Post reported, the Trump Foundation did not notify the IRS of this political donation. Instead, Trump's foundation listed a donation — also for $25,000 — to a Kansas charity with a name similar to that of Bondi's political group. In fact, Trump's foundation had not given the Kansas group any money.
The prohibited gift was, in effect, replaced with an innocent-sounding but nonexistent donation.
2013:
-Florida AG Pam Bondi considers investigation of fraud at Trump University
-Donald J. Trump Foundation donates $25,000 to campaign group "And Justice for All" backing Pam Bondi's reelection four days after Bondi's office publicly announced she was considering joining a New York state probe of Trump University's activities.
-Trump Foundation does not notify the IRS of this political donation.
-Trump's foundation instead lists a nonexistant $25,000 donation to a Kansas charity with a name similar to that of Bondi's political group (named "Justice for All").
-Pam Bondi declines to pursue the case.
2016:
-The Washington Post and watchdog groups raise questions about the donation
-Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (watchdog group) files complaint with IRS noting that, as a registered nonprofit, the Trump Foundation was not allowed to make political donations.
-The Washington Post reports the Kansas error that had the effect of obscuring the political gift from the IRS.
-Trump's business said it was unaware of any of these mistakes until March, when it heard from the watchdog group and The Washington Post.
-Trump filed paperwork informing the IRS of the political gift and paid an excise tax equal to 10 percent of its value ($2500).
-Jeffrey McConney — senior vice president and controller at the Trump Organization, said Trump had also personally reimbursed the Trump Foundation for $25,000
-AP publishes its findings on June 6th
-Washington Post publishes its findings on September 1st
Where is the investigation? Where is the 24/7 yearlong coverage? Nowhere.
