An Ohio charity linked to former Trump official Patrick Lee allegedly misused over $130,000 raised for East Palestine train disaster victims, leading to a settlement barring Lee from charity work in the state.
Amanda Moore reports for The Intercept.
In short:
- The Ohio Clean Water Fund, which raised $141,000 after the 2023 train derailment, falsely claimed to partner with a local food bank, instead keeping most of the funds raised.
- Pat Lee, a Republican operative tied to the charity, settled with the Ohio attorney general without admitting wrongdoing but is permanently barred from fundraising in Ohio.
- The charity must pay $131,000 in restitution and $15,000 in civil penalties as part of the settlement.
Why this matters:
In the wake of disasters, communities often rally to support those in need, opening their hearts and wallets to provide relief. But alongside the outpouring of generosity, fraudulent charities can emerge, preying on the goodwill of donors and siphoning resources away from the vulnerable communities they claim to help.
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