Trump Allegedly Used $286K in Foundation Funds to Build Campaign

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump allegedly used $286,000 of his foundation’s funds to build his political campaign, RealClearPolitics reports.

The report reviewed the foundation’s tax filings between 2011 and 2014, which showed Trump spent over a quarter-million dollars in donations to policy and conservative groups. Those donations appear to have given Trump speaking slots in front of conservatives.

Among those donations includes $10,000 to the Palmetto Family Council, whose leader was previously very critical of Trump.

Trump’s foundation is primarily reliant on outside donations, as Trump himself has not donated to his own charity since 2008, CNN reports.

Experts say Trump gaining the opportunity to speak at networking events may fall in the self-dealing territory.

The Republican nominee has also been under fire for other allegations of self-dealing, including a donation of $25,000 from the Donald J. Trump Foundation to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in 2013. The foundation claimed it was a clerical error, and has paid a $2,500 fine to the Internal Revenue Service.

RealClearPolitics also found another $10,000 donation in 2013 to The Family Leader, a group that can influence policy. Trump was given a key speaking role at an event with social conservatives in Iowa after his donation. The donation may also violate IRS rules if the foundation failed to donate to the group’s nonprofit organization The Family Leader Foundation.