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News Wednesday, Jun 21 2017

Scandal Plagued Jared Kushner Should Resign, Not Represent U.S. Abroad

Jun 21, 2017

As Jared Kushner, presidential son-in law and Secretary of Everything, arrives in the Middle East today we are reminded that he is smack in the middle of the ongoing Russia investigation and has no place leading this important White House mission.  Today American Bridge is calling for his resignation once and for all. 
“It is completely inappropriate for Jared Kushner to represent our country in trying to broker peace in the Middle East while he is marred by this scandal at home,” said American Bridge Rapid Response Director Emily Aden. “We know he is a major focus of the FBI investigation, he tried to set up a private back channel between the Trump transition team and Moscow, and lied repeatedly on his security clearance forms about meetings with Russian officials. He shouldn’t be representing us overseas, he ought to be submitting his resignation immediately.” 

Background
1. The Special Counsel Is Investigating Jared Kushner’s Business Dealings.

“Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III is investigating the finances and business dealings of Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, as part of the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.” [Washington Post, 6/15/17]

 2. Jared Kushner Is Looking To Beef Up His Legal Team With Criminal Lawyers.

“Representatives of Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, have quietly contacted high-powered criminal lawyers about potentially representing him in the wide-ranging investigation into Russia’s influence on the 2016 election, according to three people briefed on the matter.” [New York Times, 6/18/17]

 3. Jared Kushner’s Secret Meetings With Russian Officials Is A Focus Of The Russia Investigation.

“Investigators are focusing on a series of meetings held by Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and an influential White House adviser, as part of their probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and related matters, according to people familiar with the investigation. Kushner, who held meetings in December with the Russian ambassador and a banker from Moscow, is being investigated because of the extent and nature of his interactions with the Russians, the people said.” [Washington Post, 5/25/17]

 4. Jared Kushner Wanted To Set Up A Back Channel Between The Trump Transition And Moscow.

“Jared Kushner and Russia’s ambassador to Washington discussed the possibility of setting up a secret and secure communications channel between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin, using Russian diplomatic facilities in an apparent move to shield their pre-inauguration discussions from monitoring, according to U.S. officials briefed on intelligence reports. Ambassador Sergey Kislyak reported to his superiors in Moscow that Kushner, son-in-law and confidant to then-President-elect Trump, made the proposal during a meeting on Dec. 1 or 2 at Trump Tower, according to intercepts of Russian communications that were reviewed by U.S. officials.” [Washington Post, 5/26/17]

5. Jared Kushner Lied Repeatedly On His Security Clearance Forms By Failing To Disclose Multiple Meetings With Russian Officials.

“U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and close adviser, Jared Kushner, had at least three previously undisclosed contacts with the Russian ambassador to the United States during and after the 2016 presidential campaign, seven current and former U.S. officials told Reuters. Those contacts included two phone calls between April and November last year, two of the sources said. By early this year, Kushner had become a focus of the FBI investigation into whether there was any collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, said two other sources – one current and one former law enforcement official.” [Reuters, 5/27/17]


Published: Jun 21, 2017

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