The order finalized a settlement between the New York Attorney General’s Office, Trump and the Donald J. Trump Foundation. Then-state Attorney General Barbara Underwood filed a lawsuit against the Trump and his foundation in June 2018. The state accused the organization of “a pattern of persistent illegal conduct, occurring over more than a decade, that includes extensive unlawful political coordination with the Trump presidential campaign, repeated and willful self-dealing transactions to benefit Mr. Trump’s personal and business interests, and violations of basic legal obligations for non-profit foundations.”
One specific example cited was a “nationally televised fundraiser Mr. Trump held in lieu of participating in the presidential primary debate in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 28, 2016.” That Iowa fundraiser was billed as a special event for veterans; its website, donaldtrumpforvets.com, featured the name of the Trump Foundation and noted that it was a nonprofit.