Wyden and Raskin request special counsel to investigate Kushner

25/10/2024 6:10

        The Democratic chair of
        the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and a prominent Democratic
        congressman asked the U.S. attorney general on Thursday to
        appoint a special counsel to investigate whether Jared Kushner,
        former President Donald Trump's son-in-law, was functioning as
        an unregistered foreign agent for Saudi Arabia, according to a
        letter from the lawmakers.
        The letter from U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and U.S. Representative
        Jamie Raskin cited an Oct. 4 Reuters report that revealed that
        Kushner on multiple occasions had discussed U.S.-Saudi diplomacy
        concerning Israel with Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown
        Prince Mohammed bin Salman, since leaving 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," Wyden and Raskin wrote in the eight-page
        letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland. The letter has not
        been previously reported.
        
        "Mr. Kushner's proximity to President Trump and the
        potential for political interference warrants the appointment of
        a Special Counsel," the letter added.
        
        Saudi Arabia has invested $2 billion into a private equity
        fund, Affinity Partners, that Kushner, who was a top adviser on
        the Middle East during Trump's administration, founded in 2021
        after leaving government, according to congressional
        investigators.
        
        In a statement, Kushner said, "There is no conflict of
        interest." He dismissed the letter as "silly political stunts."
        
        Chad Mizelle, Chief Legal Officer at Affinity Partners,
        called the request for a Special Counsel "a disgraceful attempt
        by Wyden and Raskin to turn an already weaponized DOJ into a
        fully political operation with accusations that have no merit or
        evidence."
        
        The Department of Justice and the Saudi Arabian embassy did
        not immediately respond to requests for comment.
        Saudi Arabia's investments in Kushner's fund have been
        criticized by ethics experts, Democrats in Congress and some
        Republicans, who have expressed concern that Saudi Arabia’s
        stake can look like a payoff since Kushner worked on Saudi
        issues before leaving Trump's White House.
        
        "There is substantial reason to believe," the letter wrote,
        "that the Saudi government's decision to engage Affinity for
        investment advice is a fig leaf for funneling money directly to
        Mr. Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump."
        Affinity and Kushner have previously denied that Saudi Arabia's
        investments are a payoff or a conflict of interest. Affinity has
        said Wyden and his Senate staff do not understand the realities
        of private equity.
        
        The letter comes less than two weeks before the Nov. 5 U.S.
        presidential election between Trump, a Republican, and Democrat
        Kamala Harris. Special counsel investigations have more
        political independence than prosecutions run by Justice
        Department attorneys, though special counsels can be fired by
        the Attorney General.
        
        During his time as Trump's special advisor, Kushner
        engineered the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements in which
        Islamic nations established diplomatic ties with Israel in
        exchange for concessions by the United States. Saudi Arabia
        never signed on but the Biden Administration has tried to
        encourage the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel, an
        effort that appeared to stall amid the Gaza conflict.
        
        The Oct. 4 Reuters report, quoting a source familiar with
        the discussions, said Kushner's talks with Saudi Arabia’s crown
        prince included the process of normalizing relations between
        Israel and Saudi Arabia. The source did not identify when the
        talks took place and whether they occurred before or after the
        start of the Gaza conflict.
        
        The U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA, requires
        agents of foreign interests who engage in political activity to
        register with the Department of Justice.
        
        Wyden is the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and
        has been investigating investments by Saudi Arabia and other
        countries in Kushner's funds since June. Raskin is the ranking
        member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.