(Image source from: ABC)

The New York attorney general has filed a lawsuit against Donald J Trump charitable foundation, as well as Donald Trump himself and his three children, asserting he profaned federal election laws and state charity.

According to reports, it avers that the Trump used charitable assets as little more than a checkbook for payments to not-for-profits from Trump and his companies.

Further allegations include Trump Foundation finances and possessions were used to pay for a painting of Donald Trump to be adorned at one his golf clubs, whereas other possessions were used to settle legal claims against another of Trump's clubs.

"The foundation is little more than an empty shell that functions with no oversight from its board of directors," the lawsuit alleges. "Trump ran the foundation according to whim, rather than law."

According to reports, the state attorney general Barbara Underwood is asking a court to dissolve the Trump foundation and wants $2.8 million in restitution, plus additional penalties.

The lawsuit is as well seeking to ten years of ban on Trump from serving director of ant New York not-for-profit for ten years and a year ban for Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump.

The claims made in the lawsuit have been dismissed by the president as the work of "sleazy New York Democrats", and has assured not to pay the restitution or settle the lawsuit out of court.

New York attorney general has "significant investigatory and prosecutorial power", says the BBC. "There's no telling what she might turn up" if she begins looking deeper into Trump's "more questionable charitable activities".

By Sowmya Sangam