Investigation Requested into Jared Kushner's Ties to Saudi Arabia

By Aram Roston, Alexandra Ulmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Democratic chair of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and a prominent Democratic congressman have urged the U.S. attorney general to appoint a special counsel to investigate whether Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump's son-in-law, acted as an unregistered foreign agent for Saudi Arabia.

The request comes in a letter from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin, referencing an October 4 Reuters report that revealed Kushner had discussed U.S.-Saudi diplomacy regarding Israel with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman since leaving the government.

> "This revelation is deeply disturbing, as Mr. Kushner appears to be influencing U.S. foreign policy by acting as a political consultant to the Saudi government while also accepting their money," the lawmakers stated in their eight-page letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

The letter highlighted concerns over Kushner's relationships and financial dealings, given that Saudi Arabia invested $2 billion in a private equity fund he founded, Affinity Partners, after his departure from the White House.

Kushner responded, stating, "There is no conflict of interest," and dismissed the letter as "silly political stunts." Chad Mizelle, Chief Legal Officer at Affinity Partners, labeled the special counsel request as a "disgraceful attempt" to politicize the Justice Department.

Saudi Arabia's financial ties to Kushner’s fund have drawn criticism from various lawmakers, raising suspicions that the investment structures could be perceived as payoffs due to Kushner's prior role in U.S.-Saudi relations.

The lawmakers indicated that the Saudi government’s engagement with Affinity could be a means to funnel money directly to Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump.

Despite denials from both Kushner and Affinity concerning any improper financial dealings, the ongoing investigation lays bare the tensions surrounding foreign influence and ethics in political advisory roles.

The timing of the request is notable, coming less than two weeks before the U.S. presidential election featuring Trump against Democrat Kamala Harris. Special counsels possess more political independence than typical Justice Department prosecutions but can still be dismissed by the Attorney General.

During his tenure, Kushner played a crucial role in orchestrating the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic relations between several Arab nations and Israel. However, Saudi Arabia did not partake in these accords, though the Biden administration aims to resume talks for normalization between the two nations amidst ongoing tensions related to the Gaza conflict.

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) mandates agents of foreign entities engaged in political activities to register with the Justice Department. Wyden has been probing investments by foreign nations in Kushner’s funds since June, while Raskin serves as the ranking member on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

(Alexandra Ulmer reported from San Francisco. Editing by Jason Szep)