The political landscape is heating up as the US presidential election approaches, with new accusations swirling around former President Donald Trump’s inner circle. This time, the spotlight is on Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former advisor, with a Democratic senator calling for a special counsel investigation into his alleged ties to Saudi Arabia.
Senator Ron Wyden, the Democratic chair of the US Senate Finance Committee, has formally requested Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel to investigate Kushner’s activities, specifically his potential role as an unregistered foreign agent for the Saudi government. The request, co-signed by Representative Jamie Raskin, stems from a Reuters report alleging that Kushner has engaged in discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about US-Saudi diplomacy concerning Israel, specifically the normalization of relations between the two countries. These discussions, which reportedly took place after Kushner left the White House, have raised eyebrows due to his previous role in negotiating the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. While Saudi Arabia did not sign the accords, the Biden administration has been actively working to encourage the kingdom to do so. These efforts have stalled, however, amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Adding fuel to the fire, it has been revealed that Saudi Arabia invested a hefty $2 billion into Kushner’s private equity fund, Affinity Partners, which he founded in 2021 after leaving the White House. This significant investment has further fueled speculation about Kushner’s influence and potential conflicts of interest.
Wyden and Raskin, in their letter to Attorney General Garland, argued that Kushner’s actions raise serious concerns about his potential influence on US foreign policy while accepting money from the Saudi government. They emphasize that the close ties between Kushner and former President Trump, as well as the timing of the request just days before the US presidential election, warrant a thorough and independent investigation by a special counsel.
Special counsel investigations are typically seen as more independent than regular Justice Department probes, offering greater autonomy to investigators and insulation from political pressure. However, the attorney general still holds the power to dismiss a special counsel investigation.
Kushner’s spokesperson has vehemently denied the allegations, calling them a “desperate attempt by partisan Democrats” to create an issue ahead of the election. Chad Mizelle, Affinity Partners’ Chief Legal Officer, echoed these sentiments, branding the accusations as “a disgraceful attempt” to politicize the Department of Justice with “accusations that have no merit or evidence.”
The political battle over Kushner’s alleged dealings with Saudi Arabia is likely to intensify as the US presidential election nears, with both sides leveraging the issue for their own political gain. The outcome of this investigation, if one is indeed launched, could have significant implications for both Kushner and the US-Saudi relationship.