The top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee demands that Chairman James Comer subpoena the investment firm of former White House adviser Jared Kushner to produce documents related to the “extraordinary financing” he received from the Media East.
Saudi Arabia made a $2 billion investment in former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law’s firm, Affinity Partners, plus $25 million a year in management fees, said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), ranking member panel range. , he stated in a letter to Comer (R-Ky.) published Thursday.
Raskin also argued that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had a “direct personal involvement” in securing the financing, raising “the significant possibility that there was a large quid pro quo.”
Attempts by Democrats on the oversight panel to obtain documents from Kushner related to his dealings with sovereign wealth funds controlled by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have so far been rebuffed, according to Raskin, who is seeking subpoena power from Comer to force his release.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have been unable to obtain documents from Kushner’s signature, according to Raskin.Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
Comer is leading the panel’s investigation into President Biden’s role in Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings.AP
Raskin’s request comes after Comer acknowledged earlier this month that he believes Kushner’s deal with Saudi Arabia, which was reportedly made six months after Trump left office, “crossed the line of ethics.”
“I am encouraged by your recent acknowledgment that ‘what Kushner did crossed the line of ethics’ and your repeated assertions that our Committee is ‘investigating attempts by foreign nationals to attack and coerce the relatives of senior U.S. officials by providing them with money or other means’. benefits in exchange for certain actions,’” the Maryland Democrat writes in the letter.
“Therefore, I urge you to use the Committee’s subpoena power to compel Affinity to produce the information this Committee needs to conduct a full and fair investigation into whether Mr. Kushner misused his position as a senior official. from the government to benefit their personal financial and business interests. — Information that Mr. Kushner and Affinity have unjustifiably refused to produce for over a year,” he added.
Aside from the Saudi investment, Raskin expresses concern about the $200 million in funding Affinity Partners reportedly received from the United Arab Emirates and Qatar and reports that the company’s more than $3 billion in assets under management are at a 99% “attributable to customers who are not United States persons.” .”
Kushner, who was tasked with managing Middle East policy during his time in the White House, led efforts to implement the Abraham Accords, which led to four Arab states establishing diplomatic relations with Israel.
Kushner’s firm received a $2 billion Saudi investment six months after Trump left office. REUTERS
His firm made the $2 billion deal with the Saudi Public Investment Fund despite a review panel’s concerns about “inexperience” and a due diligence review that was “unsatisfactory in all respects,” according to the minutes. of the meeting reported by the New York Times.
The Saudi investment has drawn comparisons to Hunter Biden’s overseas business dealings, into which Comer has been leading a sprawling congressional investigation, including examining President Biden’s role in the operation.
“I trust you will recognize that the Committee cannot claim to be ‘investigating attempts by foreign nationals to attack and coerce family members of high-ranking U.S. officials by providing them with money or other benefits in exchange for certain actions’ without examining the plethora of the previous administration. of foreign financial entanglements, including President Trump’s receipt of millions of dollars from foreign governments while in office, a flagrant violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, and Ivanka Trump’s corresponding receipt of approvals of brands from China and Japan while serving as a senior advisor to the White House,” Raskin states in the letter.
A House Oversight spokesperson told The Post in a statement that the ranking member’s letter “is nothing more than an attempt to distract from the mounting evidence of Joe Biden’s involvement in the trafficking schemes.” of influences of his family”.
“If Ranking Member Raskin was truly concerned about ethics in government, then he would join Republicans in our investigation into the Bidens’ blatant corruption. However, ranking member Raskin is only concerned about playing defense attorney for the Biden family,” the spokesperson added.
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