This file photo taken on November 9, 2016 shows President-elect Donald Trump with son-in-law Jared Kushner (R) during an election night party at a hotel in New York. Photo: AFP
By Aram Roston and Alexandra Ulmer, Reuters
The Democratic chair of the US Senate Finance Committee and a prominent Democratic congressman asked the US attorney general 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 US Senator Ron Wyden and US Representative Jamie Raskin cited an 4 October Reuters report that revealed that Kushner on multiple occasions had discussed US-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 US 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 US$2 billion (NZ$3.3 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" and said it was "beneath the level of seriousness that both of their chambers deserve."
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 weaponised DOJ into a fully political operation with accusations that have no merit or evidence."
The Department of Justice acknowledged receipt of the letter but declined further comment.
The Saudi Arabian embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Saudi Arabia's investments in Kushner's fund have been criticised 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 funnelling 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 5 November US 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 4 October Reuters report, quoting a source familiar with the discussions, said Kushner's talks with Saudi Arabia's crown prince included the process of normalising 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 US 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.
-Reuters