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Former first lady Melania Trump has responded to reports over the weekend that she is under criminal investigation, labeling them patently false.
According to The New York Times and Raw Story, Melania is under investigation for allegedly violating Florida laws governing charities.
Per Raw Story:
In a deep dive into how Donald Trump has turned his four years as president into a money-making machine cashing in on his renewed celebrity, the New York Times notes that Melania Trump is being scrutinized for selling tickets to a meet and greet with a portion of the proceeds going to a charity that doesn’t appear to exist.
While noting that former first lady has already been attempting to make money by auctioning off some apparel, the Times’ Shane Goldmacher and Eric Lipton reported that Melania has a “high tea” event scheduled in April in Florida that is raising eyebrows.
According to the report, “Mrs. Trump is now selling tickets to the April ‘high tea,’ with organizers saying that some of the profits will benefit an initiative of her ‘Be Best’ endeavor called ‘Fostering the Future,’ meant to provide computer-science scholarships to young people who have been in foster care.”
With details vague as to what portion of the ticket sales will go to the former president’s wife, questions are being raised about her “Fostering the Future” charity.
“Florida requires any organization that raises charitable contributions in the state to register. No charity with the name ‘Fostering the Future’ or ‘Be Best’ is registered in Florida,” the Times reported, noting that an official in the state says the situation is being looked into.
“Asked about the solicitation, officials at the Florida agency that oversees charitable fund-raising said they also could not find evidence of the required state registration and had opened an inquiry as a result,” the Times report said, adding that Erin M. Moffet, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services who also pointed out “the state law requiring charities to register before soliciting money.”
But the former first lady clapped back at the reports on Sunday, blasting them as false.
“Dishonest reporting at it again,” responded the former First Lady. “Everything has been done lawfully, & all documents are in the works. Read with caution-typical corrupt media. ”
Dishonest reporting at it again. Everything has been done lawfully, & all documents are in the works. Read with caution-typical corrupt media.
We are working w/Bradley Impact Fund, a Donor-Advised Fund, to select charities that will receive the donations to foster children. https://t.co/5ZKr5SwIZz
— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) February 12, 2022
“We are working w/Bradley Impact Fund, a Donor-Advised Fund, to select charities that will receive the donations to foster children,” she added.
According to the Fidelity Charitable website: “A contribution to a donor-advised fund is an irrevocable commitment to charity; the funds cannot be returned to the donor or any other individual or used for any purpose other than grantmaking to charities.”
It should also be noted that the only statewide elected office held by a Democrat in Florida is Nikki Fried, who is commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and is also running for governor against incumbent GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The Times piece also cited former President Donald Trump for “moneymaking ventures” since leaving office while accusing him of improper behavior while in office:
In the year since Mr. Trump has left the White House, he has undertaken a wide-ranging set of moneymaking ventures, trading repeatedly on his political fame and fan base in pursuit of profit. Much as he did while in the White House, Mr. Trump has thoroughly blurred the lines between his political ambitions and his business interests.
The Times piece did not delve into how Trump “blurred” lines or what “business interests” came before his duties as president.
But while in office, Trump donated his salary to various government agencies, taking just $1 per year as required by current statutes, USA Today reported.
