2013 Lawsuit
On February 5, 2013, it was reported a lawsuit had been filed by donors in Manhattan Supreme Court against Rauf accusing him of using millions of dollars in donations to fund an extravagant lifestyle for himself and his wife. According to court documents, the plaintiffs accused Rauf of diverting $167,000 from private donations and $3 million in donations from the government of Malaysia to purchase real estate, take expensive vacations, and purchase a luxury sports car.
The lawsuit against Rauf comes as a response to a lawsuit filed in Washington, DC in 2011 against these donors by Rauf's organization, Cordoba Initiative. The lawsuit alleges that the donors took a large sum of money from the Cordoba Initiative meant for the acquisition of an office in Washington. The lawsuit accuses the donors of knowingly exaggerating the value of a condominium in Washington that they sold to the Cordoba Initiative in 2010, and then failing to transfer the title or to return the money to the organization. Recently, a federal judge ruled that the case against the donors was legally sound and may proceed. Shortly afterwards, the donors filed their suit against Rauf.
Read more about this topic: Feisal Abdul Rauf, Controversies