trump golf charity money syphoned off

Donald Trump, reportedly "Had a cow" when he found out certain charity events were not being charged for use of his golf courses. The resultant appropriation of funds has been called to task by Forbes magazine. We take a look and see if DT's cow birthage had merit...

A cancer charity run by President Donald Trump's son Eric paid the family's Trump Organization more than $1.2 million for fundraising golf events despite Eric's claims that the charity was able use a Trump golf course for free, a report in Forbes magazine says.

Forbes goes on to says that "while donors to the Eric Trump Foundation were told their money was going to help sick children, more than $500,000.00 was re-donated to other charities, many of which were connected to Trump family members or interests, including at least four groups that subsequently paid to hold golf tournaments at Trump courses."

Donald Trump with son Eric. So that's what he looks like...

Eric Trump has hosted charity golf tournaments since 2007 to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis in Tennessee. Forbes said that he has overseen more than $11,000,000.00 in donations to the charity, and helped raise an additional $5,000,000.00 for that hospital through events hosted by other groups.

While DT is busy running the free world, ET is currently running the Trump Organization with his older brother Donald Jr. 

ET reportedly told Forbes that nearly all the money contributed to the foundation goes toward St. Jude because his charity has been able to use the Trump family's golf course in Westchester County, New York, for free.

"We get to use our assets 100% free of charge," ET said, according to the article.

But Forbes refutes this: "That's not the case. In reviewing filings from the Eric Trump Foundation and other charities, it's clear that the course wasn't free — that the Trump Organization received payments for its use, part of more than $1.2 million that has no documented recipients past the Trump Organization.

"Golf charity experts say the listed expenses defy any reasonable cost justification for a one-day golf tournament."

Trump Westchester

Forbes reported that Donald Trump became aware that the golf course was not billing Eric's foundation, and demanded the charity begin being charged about six years ago.

"Mr. Trump had a cow. He flipped!" said Ian Gillule, former membership and marketing director of the Trump National Westchester golf course. "He said, 'I don't care if it's my son or not — everybody gets billed.' "

Forbes goes on to say that the Donald J. Trump Foundation, a charity set up by the president, "apparently used the Eric Trump Foundation to funnel $100,000 in donations into revenue for the Trump Organization."

"All of this seems to defy federal tax rules and state laws that ban self-dealing and misleading donors," claims Forbes. It also raises larger questions about the Trump family dynamics and whether Eric and his brother, Don Jr., can be truly independent of their father."

DT, according to the article, ordered the Trump Organization start billing the Eric Trump Foundation hundreds of thousands of dollars after becoming aware that his company had not been charging the charity for its facilities and services.

ET: "And then they said I couldn't put 12 new helicopters on expenses."

Scottish bag man: "Aye, sonny, there's nae justice..."

A spokesperson for the Trump Organisation hit back at the article, stating: "During the past decade, the Eric Trump Foundation has raised over $16.3 million for St. Jude Children's Research hospital while maintaining an expense ratio of just 12.3%. The Eric Trump Foundation was also responsible for building a $20 million dollar ICU which treats the sickest children anywhere in the world suffering from the most catastrophic terminal illnesses."

"Contrary to recent reports, at no time did the Trump Organization profit in any way from the foundation or any of its activities. While people can disagree on political issues, to infer malicious intent on a charity that has changed so many lives, is not only shameful but is truly disgusting. At the end of the day the only people who lose are the children of St. Jude and other incredibly worthy causes."

Forbes also reported that after Eric Trump's foundation received an influx of new board members in 2011 (most of whom were either direct employees of or connected to the Trump Organization, "more than $500,000 was redirected to a variety of other charities, many of which were personal favorites of Trump family members and several of which had nothing to do with children's cancer — but happened to become clients of Trump's golf courses."

The caper continues...

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