Democratic lawmakers are calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to appoint a special counsel to investigate Jared Kushner’s ties to Saudi Arabia. Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, is under scrutiny for a $2 billion investment linked to his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, which was backed by a Saudi fund led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—this deal occurred just six months after Kushner left the White House in January 2021.
Chad Mizelle, Affinity Partners’ chief legal officer, criticized the call for an investigation, labeling it a “disgraceful attempt” by Senators Ron Wyden and Jamie Raskin to politicize the DOJ before the upcoming 2024 election. Kushner himself dismissed their concerns as “silly political stunts,” asserting that there is “no conflict of interest.”
In their letter, Wyden and Raskin expressed that Kushner has acted as a “shadow diplomat” to the Saudi prince and noted that his firm has received $87 million from the Saudi Public Investment Fund since June 2021.
The lawmakers allege that Kushner may have violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) by failing to disclose his foreign payments while acting in a political consulting role. “Despite being engaged in plainly political activities, Mr. Kushner has not made FARA disclosures… related to the millions of dollars he is paid annually by entities owned and controlled by the governments of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar,” the senators stated.
They argued that the undisclosed payments and Kushner’s potential efforts to influence U.S. foreign policy for personal gain require DOJ action. The letter refers to reports suggesting that Kushner has engaged in discussions with Prince Mohammed about Israel post-White House.
Affinity Partners reportedly earned $157.5 million in management fees from foreign investors for its work, with future earnings projected to exceed $90 million, including significant sums from the Saudi fund.
Kushner responded by characterizing the lawmakers’ letter as lacking in seriousness, emphasizing that during Trump’s presidency, decisions were always made in America’s best interest. He stated he wouldn’t seek a position in a potential second Trump administration but plans to provide informal support and advice to Trump moving forward.
Kushner previously defended the Saudi investment deal, arguing that there was no conflict of interest involved. “Point to a single decision we made that wasn’t in the interest of America,” he challenged critics at a recent summit.