Donald Trump has paid a fine of $2,500 after his foundation violated rules with a gift of $25,000 to aid the Florida Attorney General in 2013.
The Washington Post revealed the improper donation was a gift from the Donald J. Trump Foundation to Attorney General Pam Bondi at a time when she was considering whether to investigate fraud allegations against Trump University. She did not pursue the investigation.
The amount of the fine is minuscule in relation to Trump's estimated wealth but it contradicts his claims that his rival, Hillary Clinton, is crooked and he is a cornerstone of integrity.
As the Trump Foundation is registered as a nonprofit organisation, it is not allowed to make political donations. Furthermore, there appears to have been a concerted effort to conceal the payment.
The foundation did not notify the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of the donation in its tax filings for that year but instead listed a donation to a Kansas charity with a similar name to Bondi's political group. The Kansas group did not receive any funds from Trump's foundation.
Trump paid IRS fine after illegal political contribution: report https://t.co/GGdGBYPGRT pic.twitter.com/aQAbZzPGnI
— The Hill (@thehill) September 2, 2016