Eric Thayer/Reuters
A judge in New York on Friday denied a request by the Trump Foundation to dismiss a lawsuit filed by New York’s attorney general alleging that President Trump was involved in “persistent illegality” at his personal charity organization. Justice Saliann Scarpulla of the state's Supreme Court ruled that the lawsuit can move ahead, rejecting arguments by President Trump’s lawyers that he cannot be sued due to his position in office. Trump’s defense also claimed that state courts have no jurisdiction over the president. “In accordance with Clinton V. Jones and Zervos V. Trump, I find that I have jurisdiction over Mr. Trump and deny Respondents' motion to dismiss the petition against him on jurisdictional grounds,” Scarpulla ruled in response to that argument. Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood, welcomed the judge’s decision. “As the AG’s lawsuit detailed, the Trump Foundation functioned as a personal piggy bank to serve Trump's business & political interests,” Spitalnick tweeted.