--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Welcome to Today Explained. I'm Sean Rameswaram.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Today, we're talking about the Trump Foundation, and the Washington Post's David Fahrenthold joins us to share some of the most unbelievable stories about the organization's shenanigans. David, thanks for coming on the show.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Thanks for having me, Sean.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: So, let's start with the basics. What's the Trump Foundation, and why is it in the news again?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, the Trump Foundation is a charity that was set up by Donald Trump back in the 1980s. It's supposed to be a way for him to give back to the community, but over the years, it's become clear that it's been used as a way for him to promote himself and his businesses.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what's the latest news about the foundation?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: The state of New York has opened up a fresh inquiry into the organization, and just last week, investigators subpoenaed Michael Cohen for Trump Foundation documents.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. So, let's dive into some of the stories you've uncovered about the Trump Foundation. One of the things that's really striking is that the foundation's success rate is almost 100%. Every time they investigate a tip, they find something newsworthy.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. It's like every rock they turn over, there's something underneath it that's worth reporting on.
--:-- Sean Rameswold: And one of the stories that really stands out is about a person who called you out of the blue and said that they knew a story from the mid-90s about Trump barging into a charity event and stealing a seat on the stage.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And at first, I thought it was ridiculous, but after four phone calls, I was talking to someone who was on the stage and watched it happen.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Wow. That's incredible. And what's the context for this story?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: The controversy around the Trump Foundation isn't new, but as the Mueller investigation heats up, the investigation into the Trump Foundation is heating up on the country's back burner.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's history. You've written about how Trump started the foundation in the 1980s, saying he would give away the proceeds of "The Art of the Deal".
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And one of the interesting things about Trump is that he has this sort of two-sided personality. On one side, he's a billionaire who doesn't need any money, but on the other side, he's always hustling to get people's money.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And how did the Trump Foundation fit into this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, Trump said that the money from "The Art of the Deal" would go to charity, so he started the Trump Foundation. But over time, he stopped giving money to the foundation, and most of the money came from other people, like Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what's the significance of Vince McMahon's donation to the Trump Foundation?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, Vince McMahon is a wrestling mogul, and he gave $5 million to the Trump Foundation in 2007 and 2009. And what's interesting is that Trump was giving away Vince McMahon's money for the next seven years.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the latest news about the Trump Foundation?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: The state of New York has filed a lawsuit against the foundation, Donald Trump, and his three oldest children.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the lawsuit. What's the main argument?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: The lawsuit says that Trump ran the foundation in a persistently illegal manner, and it goes through all the things you can do wrong with a foundation.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what are some of the specific allegations?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: One of the most basic rules about foundations is that the money in the foundation is not the president's money, and it can't be spent to benefit him. But repeatedly, the Trump Foundation used its money to buy things for Donald Trump.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what about the Trump Foundation's donation to Pam Bondi's campaign?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's another big deal. The Trump Foundation made a $25,000 contribution to Pam Bondi's campaign, which is prohibited.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what about the Trump Foundation's tax returns?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, the Trump Foundation didn't report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up the donation.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was trying to cover up its activities.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's use of its money. You've written about how Trump used the foundation's money to buy a portrait of himself.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the portrait is now the property of the charity, and it has to be used for charitable purposes.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: And what happened to the portrait?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: Well, one of the portraits was found hanging on the wall of Trump's sports bar in Florida.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
--:-- David Fahrenthold: It shows that the Trump Foundation was using its money to benefit Trump's business.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: Okay, let's talk about the Trump Foundation's tax returns. You've written about how the foundation didn't report its income and expenses accurately.
--:-- David Fahrenthold: That's right. And what's interesting is that the Trump Foundation didn't even report the donation to Pam Bondi's campaign on its tax returns.
--:-- Sean Rameswaram: That's a big deal. And what's the significance of this?
