On Thursday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate possible violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law and former White House senior adviser, has sent a formal request for the appointment of an official (FARA). Lawmakers allege that Kushner is acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Wyden announced the investigation, saying he had investigated Mr. Kushner's business dealings for “many years” and found evidence of serious legal violations.
Suspicion of undisclosed foreign payments
In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, the lawmakers specifically cited evidence suggesting that Kushner may have acted as an unregistered foreign agent for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Recent public reporting and a Senate investigation have uncovered significant evidence that Mr. Kushner acted as an unregistered foreign agent for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. By his own admission, Kushner has received at least $80 million in compensation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments since June 2021, and is actively advising former President Trump's campaign.
The letter follows a Senate investigation that revealed that Kushner's private equity fund, Affinity Partners, had received more than $87 million from the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) since June 2021. focused.
The Democratic Party writes,
There is good reason to believe that the Saudi government's decision to provide investment advice to Affinity is a fig leaf to funnel money directly to Mr. Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump.
PIF's board investment committee expressed concerns about Kushner's lack of experience, determined that Affinity's management was unsatisfactory and that its management fees were too high, according to a public report cited by lawmakers. labeled. Despite these objections, Saudi Arabia's PIF board, led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, overruled the committee and approved a $2 billion investment in Affinity. To date, Affinity is claimed to have not generated any returns for investors, further raising concerns about the purpose of the investment and potential political motives.
It is worth noting that PIF is Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund and manages approximately $925 billion in assets. It is one of the world's largest investment funds and plays a central role in the Kingdom's economic diversification under Vision 2030. We are making significant investments around the world in areas such as technology, infrastructure and renewable energy. PIF is also an important tool for increasing Saudi Arabia's geopolitical influence through strategic investments in well-known companies and industries around the world.
Kushner's fund also received $1 billion from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Taiwanese billionaire Terry Gou, according to the letter.
Wyden and Raskin argue that the scale of these payments is “unprecedented” and requires an immediate investigation to assess whether Mr. Kushner's actions are in line with FARA's requirements.
national security concerns
Senators have expressed deep concern about Kushner's continued involvement in U.S. politics, which he says is funded by foreign governments.
The letter says:
Kushner is an official of a foreign government, advised former President Trump, and could influence U.S. foreign policy. If proper disclosure is not made, this is a clear violation of FARA.
It added: “His role in advising both Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and former President Trump threatens to undermine U.S. national security objectives.”
Kushner served as special envoy to the Middle East during President Trump's term from 2017 to 2021. During this time, Mr. Kushner played a central role in U.S. policy in the region, particularly in brokering peace agreements and managing conflicts. His most notable accomplishment was leading the negotiations for the Abraham Accords.
In their request, Wyden and Raskin asked the Justice Department to investigate whether Kushner influenced U.S. foreign policy in ways that were more in line with foreign interests than U.S. national security priorities. are.
Seek appointment of special prosecutor
Wyden and Raskin argue that the gravity of the allegations warrants the appointment of a special counsel, citing Kushner's “closeness to President Trump and possible political interference.”
The letter concludes by calling on the Department of Justice to act quickly to maintain public confidence in the independence and integrity of its investigations, especially in cases involving prominent politicians.
The request marks a significant development in an ongoing investigation into possible foreign interference in U.S. politics that focuses on key figures in the Trump administration who continue to wield significant political influence.
What is Farah?
FARA is a U.S. law that requires individuals acting on behalf of a foreign government or political party to disclose their relationships, activities, and funds received for such activities. Failure to do so may result in significant penalties. This includes criminal charges, with fines of up to $10,000 and up to five years in prison for each violation. The law's primary purpose is to ensure transparency and limit foreign influence on U.S. policy and public opinion.
Kushner's response
Kushner dismissed calls for a special counsel investigation into his business dealings as unfounded, Reuters reported. “There is no conflict of interest,” Kushner said in a statement. He also criticized the letter, calling it a “stupid political stunt” and saying it falls “below the level of seriousness that both chambers (Wyden and Raskin) deserve.”
Chad Mizell, chief legal officer at Affinity Partners, also condemned the request, calling it “an attempt by Wyden to turn an already weaponized Department of Justice into a complete political operation with accusations without merit or evidence.” and a shameful attempt by Ruskin.
jared and hunter
Social media users responded by citing President Joe Biden's son's infamous incident and pointing out similarities to Hunter Biden's controversial foreign dealings.
To make the distinction clear, while the allegations against both Hunter Biden and Jared Kushner include concerns about financial transactions with foreign companies, the scope, legal context, and amounts involved are It is important to note that Hunter Biden is accused of spreading influence after he reportedly used family connections to obtain business deals in Ukraine and China, enriching his family in the tens of millions of dollars. By contrast, Kushner faces accusations of violating FARA while accepting $2 billion from Saudi Arabia for influencing U.S. foreign policy.
