The New York Times reported yesterday that Jared Kushner — Donald Trump’s son-in-law — got $2 billion from Saudi Arabia for a private equity fund he formed shortly after the Trump Gang left office.
Let’s connect the dots:
- Saudi Arabia’s crown prince (and de facto ruler) is Mohammed bin Salman.
- According to U.S. intelligence agencies, in 2018 bin Salman approved the killing and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
- In his official role in the Trump administration, Kushner was a vocal apologist for bin Salman.
- Kushner helped broker over $100 billion in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia. And he defended the deals from congressional outrage over the killing of Khashoggi and the humanitarian disaster caused by the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
- Advisers to bin Salman recommended against investing in Kushner’s fledgling firm, calling its operations “unsatisfactory in all respects” and its proposed fee “excessive.”
- But the fund’s board, which is led by bin Salman, nevertheless agreed to give Kushner $2 billion — which represents 80% of the investments his firm has secured so far.
I’m quoted in the Times story, calling Kushner’s relationship with the Saudis “extremely troubling” and noting that the deal plainly appears “to be both a reward to, and an investment in, Kushner.”
Since Jared Kushner played a central role in the Trump administration — and might again should Donald Trump reclaim the White House (legitimately or otherwise) — the American people are entitled to know what’s really going on here.
Tell Congress:
Open an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Jared Kushner obtaining $2 billion from a Saudi investment fund for his fledgling equity firm.
Add your name now.
Thank you for taking action.
For progress,
- Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen
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