Trump To Pay $750,000 In Connection With Inauguration Lawsuit Over Hotel Payments

Donald Trump has agreed to settle a lawsuit over allegations that the former U.S. President and his family misused non-profit inauguration funds to enrich themselves in 2017.

The New York Times reported that the lawsuit was brought by Washington, D.C., Attorney General Karl Racine. According to the suit, the non-profit funds raised by the inaugural committee were improperly used for private benefit. This happened during the four days of inaugural festivities when the Trump campaign rented $1 million in ballroom space from Trump's Washington, D.C., hotel. The case was against the Trump Organization, the Trump International Hotel in Washington and the Presidential Inaugural Committee, reported VOA.

According to the terms of the settlement, Trump's company will repay $750,000 to settle the lawsuit, reported ABC News. As per the agreement, the case is being resolved "to avoid the cost, burden, and risks of further litigation." It also said that the organizations "dispute these allegations on numerous grounds and deny having engaged in any wrongdoing or unlawful conduct."

Racine said in a statement that after Trump was elected as the U.S. President, one of the first actions he took was "illegally using his own inauguration to enrich his family." Racine noted that his team "refused to let that corruption stand." He shared that non-profit funds cannot be used to "line the pockets of individuals, no matter how powerful they are," and now "any future presidential inaugural committees are on notice that they will not get away with such egregious actions."

Denying any wrongdoing, Trump said in a statement that given the "impending sale of The Trump International Hotel, Washington D.C., and with absolutely no admission of liability or guilt, we have reached a settlement to end all litigation" with Racine. The former President further said that as crime rates are soaring in America's capital, it is "necessary that the Attorney General focus on those issues rather than a further leg of the greatest Witch-Hunt in political history."

Trump added that the case was yet another example of "weaponizing Law Enforcement against the Republican Party" and, in particular, the former President of America.

The $750,000 from Trump will be redirected to non-profit organizations.