From Foreign Policy · Sarah Leah Whitson · · 1m 50s
Congress Can Do More to Curb Kushner’s Conflicts of Interest
Congress must act to fix ethics loopholes allowing Jared Kushner to profit from foreign deals while negotiating U.S. peace deals.
In brief
Congress must act to fix ethics loopholes allowing Jared Kushner to profit from foreign deals while negotiating U.S. peace deals. Congress failed to close ethics loopholes letting Jared Kushner profit from foreign investments while negotiating peace deals. Originally reported by Foreign Policy.
Kushner’s dual roles
Jared Kushner holds dual roles as a volunteer diplomatic negotiator for President Trump and owner of Affinity Partners.
Affinity Partners’ funding
Affinity Partners is financed overwhelmingly by Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf monarchies.
Kushner’s Israeli investments
Affinity Partners became largest shareholder in Phoenix Financial, holding shares in nine Israeli military suppliers.
Kushner’s role in peace talks
Kushner was tasked with negotiating peace deals between Israel and Hamas.
Past warnings about conflicts
In April 2022, DAWN urged Congress to investigate Saudi Arabia’s $2 billion investment in Kushner’s fund.
Kushner’s fund launch
Kushner established Affinity Partners on January 21, 2021, one day after leaving White House.
Investigations into conflicts
Congress opened investigations into Kushner’s conflicts of interest in 2022 and 2024.
Affinity’s foreign funding
As of March 2024, 99 percent of Affinity’s $3 billion under management came from foreign sources.
Kushner’s Saudi ties
Kushner supported Saudi Arabia and UAE during Trump’s first term.
Ethics law loopholes
Congress did not enact revolving door laws or amend FARA rules to prevent conflicts of interest.
Kushner’s Gaza ties
Kushner’s investments in Israeli weapons companies profit from Gaza war that Saudi Arabia condemns.
Congress’s inaction
Congress failed to enact meaningful reforms to curb Kushner’s conflicts of interest in next two years.
Kushner’s defense
Kushner claims he did not direct Phoenix’s investments in Israeli weapons firms.
Congress’s next steps
Congress should demand White House explain why Kushner wasn’t designated a special government employee.
What it means
Congress failed to close ethics loopholes letting Jared Kushner profit from foreign investments while negotiating peace deals.
