Did Jared Kushner receive lucrative deals with Saidis while Trump was in office?
8/8/2024 02:50am
**Jared Kushner received a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund shortly after leaving the Trump administration, raising ethical concerns and potential conflicts of interest**. Here's a detailed analysis:
1. **Relationship with Saudi Arabia**: Jared Kushner developed a close relationship with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his time as an advisor to Donald Trump. This relationship extended to post-presidential office, as evidenced by the investment in Kushner's private equity firm, Affinity Partners.
2. **Investment from Saudi Arabia**: The $2 billion investment from the Saudi Public Investment Fund was significantly larger than the funds raised by Affinity Partners, indicating a preference for Kushner's firm by the Saudi investor.
3. **Timing of Investment**: The investment was made six months after Kushner left the White House, which raises questions about the influence of his relationship with the Saudis on the deal.
4. **Ethical Concerns**: The timing and scale of the investment have led to ethical concerns and accusations of a conflict of interest. Kushner has defended the deal, stating that he did not personally benefit from it and that it was in the interest of America.
5. **Legal and Congressional Scrutiny**: There have been calls for investigations into the deal, with some accusing Kushner of enriching himself at the expense of national security interests. House Republicans have delayed efforts to subpoena Kushner over this investment.
6. **Kushner's Business Dealings**: Kushner's business dealings with the Saudis have been scrutinized due to his role in the Trump administration and the controversial arms deal with Saudi Arabia during the Yemen conflict. The $2 billion investment has been described as a "grift" by critics who argue that Kushner prioritized personal gain over national security interests.
In conclusion, while Kushner has not been accused of personal wrongdoing, the $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia during his tenure as a White House advisor has raised significant ethical concerns and warrants further investigation.