Donal Trump, left. | Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo Trump attorney vows settlement money won't come from foundation

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s office received a written commitment from attorneys representing President-elect Donald Trump that Trump wouldn’t use his foundation to pay any portion of the $25 million fraud settlement reached late last week in the Trump University case.

In a short letter to Schneiderman’s office, Trump attorney Alan Garten said “no part of the funding of my clients’ settlement…will come from any charitable foundation or other charitable entity."


Schneiderman’s office is still investigating the Trump Foundation over concerns raised by reports that funds were used inappropriately. In October, the AG’s office demanded the foundation cease and desist fundraising activities when it was discovered the foundation was out of compliance with state regulations.

“Given Mr. Trump's reported history of using his charity's money to fund his and his businesses’ legal settlements, we demanded written assurance that the Trump University settlement would not be paid for by any charitable entity,” Schneiderman spokeswoman Amy Spitalnick said in a statement.

Last week, Schneiderman announced Trump had agreed to the multi-million dollar settlement with former Trump University participants who accused the president-elect of making fraudulent claims and promises about the program. Trump had previously stated over Twitter that he would not settle the suit and wanted to go to court, but on Saturday tweeted he’d done so to focus on transitioning into the presidency.

Schneiderman called the move a “shocking reversal” by Trump.