New York sues Trump Foundation for 'illegal conduct'

New York's attorney general announced on Thursday she was suing the Trump Foundation, as well as Donald Trump and his children, alleging "extensive and persistent" lawbreaking.

Barbara Underwood said the charitable foundation had engaged in "unlawful political coordination" designed to influence the 2016 election.

The lawsuit seeks to dissolve the foundation, Ms Underwood said.

Also named in the suit were Mr Trump's children, Ivanka, Eric, and Donald Jr.

In a statement, Ms Underwood said Mr Trump had illegally instructed his foundation to provide support to his presidential campaign by using the foundation's name and funds it raised to promote the campaign.

The lawsuit alleges that the foundation paid $100,000 to settle legal claims against Mr Trump's Mar-A-Lago resort, $158,000 to settle claims against one of his gold clubs, and $10,000 to purchase a painting of Mr Trump to hang at another of his gold clubs.

The purchase of the painting was an example of one of "at least five self-dealing transactions", the statement said, which violate tax regulations on non-profit charities.