Jared Kushner’s business dealings are receiving a greater degree of scrutiny from Senate Democrats.
Ron Wyden, a member of the Senate Finance Committee (D-Ore.) asked Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners, for insights regarding its financial backers on Wednesday.
Wyden Inquiry
Part of Wyden’s inquiry included the $2 billion it got from the Saudi Arabian government’s Public Investment Fund in 2021.
Wyden wrote, “Mr. Kushner’s limited track record as an investor, including his lack of experience in private equity or hedge funds, raise questions about the investment strategy behind the seeding investments and lucrative compensation that Affinity received from the Saudi PIF and other sovereign wealth funds.”
Saudi Involvement
A board that evaluates ventures for the Saudi sovereign wealth fund cautioned against investing with Kushner, given his naiveté in finance.
However, the full board, spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, overruled the board, The New York Times detailed in 2022.
Kushner’s Advice
Kushner guided Trump’s administration to embrace Saudi Arabia as an ally and provided advice on foreign policy.
He even compelled them to maintain close ties with the crown prince even after he was accused of dismembering American journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Compensation Concerns
Wyden stated, “The Saudi PIF’s decision to invest $2 billion in Affinity so soon after Kushner’s departure from the Trump White House raises concerns that the investment was a reward for official actions Kushner took to benefit the Saudi government.”
He went on to claim this “[included] preventing accountability for the Saudi government ordering the brutal murder of journalist and American citizen Jamal Khashoggi.”
Financial Specifics
In his letter, Wyden asked Affinity Partners for specifics regarding the firm’s investments, seeding investments, fees received, and Kushner’s compensation.
Wyden’s letter signifies an increase in Democratic scrutiny of Kushner’s business activities, which have been contentious from the beginning.
Republican Flack
Even James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee (R-Ky.), Kushner, an ardent Trump supporter, claimed last year that his Saudi deal “crossed the line of ethics.”
Comer has been in charge of the Republicans’ investigation into Joe Biden’s impeachment, which has primarily focused on business deals made by the president’s son.
Comer’s Investigation
Hunter Biden has been accused by Republicans of improperly trading on his father’s previous position as vice president under Obama.
Democrats on Comer’s committee have questioned Kushner’s Saudi pay as well as the millions of dollars that Trump’s business received from foreign governments while he was president.
Democrat Disadvantage
However, because Democrats do not hold a majority in the House, they do not have the authority to issue subpoenas, in contrast to Wyden.
This probe comes as Ben Rhodes, a former deputy national security adviser to Barack Obama alleged in April that Kushner’s investment fund was entirely supported by foreign sources.
Rhodes Comment
According to an interview with MSNBC, Rhodes said: “This is just putting a price tag on American foreign policy.”
He continued to say: “This is a level of corruption that we’ve just never seen, and it’s hiding in plain sight.”
International Investment
In Rhodes’s conversation with Alex Wagner for MSNBC, she stated that the firm “has been entangled with foreign interests since its inception.”
Wagner highlighted how the investment firm has had dealings with hotel developments in Albania and Serbia.
Corruption Allegations
As per Rhodes: “This is not subtle corruption that we’re looking at. This is a guy, Jared Kushner, who had no expertise, no qualification whatsoever to be in the White House.”
“While he was there, he made it his account to work in the Gulf Arab states. He basically helped lead the cover-up for MBS, get him in from the cold after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi” stated Rhodes.
The increased scrutiny of Kushner’s dealings may have an impact on Donald Trump’s standing come the election in November if nepotism allegations are proven.
