Democrats demand DOJ probe into Jared Kushner’s Saudi dealings, raising questions about political motivations and double standards.
At a Glance
- Democrats seek DOJ investigation into Kushner’s firm Affinity, which collected $87 million from Saudi government
- Request focuses on Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) compliance, despite previous resistance to similar investigations of Hunter Biden
- House impeachment probe revealed millions in undisclosed foreign payments to Hunter and James Biden
- Democrats claim Kushner’s advisory role to Saudi Crown Prince requires foreign agent registration
- Move highlights alleged double standard in foreign influence inquiries
Democrats Call for Kushner Investigation
In a surprising turn of events, senior congressional Democrats have requested the Justice Department to investigate Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, for potential violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden are spearheading this effort, citing concerns over undisclosed foreign payments to Kushner and the national security implications of his activities.
Two prominent Democratic lawmakers are urging the Justice Department to go after @realDonaldTrump's son-in-law Jared Kushner over his business dealings with Saudi Arabia. | @jameslynch32 https://t.co/5YrbQlSioX
— National Review (@NRO) October 26, 2024
The Democrats’ focus on Kushner’s business dealings with Saudi Arabia has raised eyebrows, particularly given their previous resistance to similar investigations into Hunter Biden’s foreign business activities. This apparent shift in stance has led to accusations of political motivation and double standards in the approach to foreign influence inquiries.
The Kushner-Saudi Connection
At the heart of the Democrats’ concerns is Kushner’s firm, Affinity, which reportedly collected at least $87 million in management fees from the Saudi government. Raskin and Wyden argue that Kushner’s work with Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern governments should require registration under FARA, a law designed to promote transparency in foreign influence activities within the United States.
“The scale of these undisclosed foreign payments to Mr. Kushner coupled with the national security implications of his apparent ongoing efforts to sell political influence to the highest foreign bidder are unprecedented and demand action from DOJ.” – Jamie Raskin and Ron Wyden
Democrats allege that Affinity may be a means for the Saudis to covertly influence the Trump family. They claim Kushner’s activities, such as advising Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin-Salman and meeting with U.S. officials, may require FARA registration to ensure transparency in foreign lobbying efforts.
Democratic lawmakers request probe into Jared Kushner after Saudi report – Middle East and Africa – The Jakarta Post #jakpost https://t.co/oqSRKmgY2S pic.twitter.com/cMkFibuemo
— The Jakarta Post (@jakpost) October 25, 2024
Parallels to Hunter Biden Controversy
The call for an investigation into Kushner’s dealings bears striking similarities to allegations made by House Republicans against Hunter Biden. A House-led impeachment probe has uncovered millions in undisclosed foreign payments to Hunter Biden and James Biden during Joe Biden’s vice presidency. These findings have fueled ongoing concerns about potential conflicts of interest and foreign influence in U.S. politics.
Interestingly, Jamie Raskin, now leading the charge against Kushner, has been a vocal opponent of the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, which focused heavily on Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings. This apparent reversal has not gone unnoticed, with critics accusing Raskin of hypocrisy.
“Raskin is a hypocrite” – James Comer
Today @RepRaskin & @RonWyden urge DOJ to appoint special counsel to investigate FARA violations by Jared Kushner
Kushner Acted as a Shadow Diplomat & Political Adviser to Crown Prince MBS Who Directed Billions in Saudi $ to Kushner-Owned Affinity Partnershttps://t.co/RvEiY7LGfA
— Wendy Siegelman (@WendySiegelman) October 24, 2024
The FARA Factor
The Democrats’ emphasis on FARA enforcement in Kushner’s case stands in stark contrast to their previous dismissal of similar concerns regarding Hunter Biden. IRS whistleblowers have testified that their investigation into Hunter Biden’s potential FARA violations was obstructed, raising questions about the consistency of FARA enforcement across political lines.
As the political landscape continues to shift, the request for a DOJ investigation into Kushner’s activities highlights the ongoing debate over foreign influence in American politics. Whether this move will lead to a more balanced approach to investigating potential FARA violations or further exacerbate partisan divides remains to be seen.
