In a recent development, Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Jamie Raskin have urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel to investigate Jared Kushner for potentially acting as an unregistered foreign agent. The lawmakers allege that Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners, has received over $150 million from foreign clients since the end of Trump’s term, with no return on investment. They argue that these payments came while Kushner remained politically active, particularly on matters related to U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
The investigation found that a significant portion of the funds received by Kushner’s firm, Affinity Partners, came from the Saudi government, totaling $87 million. It was also noted that the company has only invested a small fraction of the funds it received from the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, a Reuters report alleged that Kushner had discussed U.S.-Saudi diplomatic negotiations involving Israel with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman multiple times since leaving the Trump administration.
The lawmakers’ letter to Garland raises concerns that the Saudi government’s decision to engage Affinity for investment advice may be a way to funnel money directly to Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump. They point out that Kushner had no prior experience in private equity before starting Affinity Partners. In response to these allegations, Kushner has denied any conflict of interest, stating that during Trump’s time in office, every decision was made in the best interest of America. He dismissed the lawmakers’ letter as a “silly political stunt” and called for them to focus on positively impacting people’s lives.
Notably, Wyden and Raskin further allege that Kushner advised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on U.S. foreign policy, advised Trump on his campaign, and arranged meetings with the Qatari prime minister in the U.S., all while being paid by the Saudi government without registering as an agent. Kushner served as a senior White House adviser to Trump starting in 2017 and set up Affinity Partners after Trump left office, raising over $3 billion in capital by the following year. Democrats had previously attempted to investigate the $2 billion investment in Kushner’s firm, but a subpoena was delayed by Republicans.
Wyden has been vocal about his investigation into Kushner’s business dealings with foreign governments, accusing him of masquerading as an investment manager while potentially operating as an unregistered foreign agent. This latest push for a special counsel to investigate Kushner’s activities highlights ongoing concerns about the intersection of politics, foreign influence, and personal business dealings in Washington. As this story continues to unfold, it raises questions about transparency, accountability, and ethical considerations for those in positions of power.
