Friday 19 / April / 2024
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a statement defending his son-in-law Jared Kushner amid reports the senior White House adviser had not disclosed contacts with Russia's U.S. ambassador. U.S. President Donald Trump is sticking by his son-in-law and White House confidant Jared Kushner. Amid revelations that Kushner had undisclosed contacts with Russia's ambassador, Trump issuing a statement that 'Jared is doing a great job for the county. I have total confidence in him... In addition to that, and perhaps most importantly, he is a very good person.' The Administration's defence of Kushner coming after it was reported Kushner participated in discussions with Russia's envoy over on setting up a secret back-channel communications link between the White House and the Kremlin. U.S. National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster in an off-camera interview saying back-channels aren't unusual. 'We have back-channel communications with a number, any number of countries... no I would not be concerned about it.' But Kushner's communications with the Russians have drawn the interest of the FBI, which is investigating allegations Russia tried to meddle in the U.S. election, and whether members of the Trump campaign colluded with agents of the Russian government. Russia denies any involvement and the White House says there was no collusion. Meanwhile another problem could be looming for Kushner: his family firm's outreach to Chinese investors. The Republican chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee cited a Reuters report in calling for an investigation into "potentially fraudulent statements and misrepresentations" in marketing materials for a Kushner Companies real estate project, which suggested investors might be able to obtain U.S. green cards. Kushner Companies declined to comment. Jared Kushner's vaguely-defined role an unpaid senior White House adviser includes relations with China. He sold his stake in Kushner Companies to a family trust earlier this year.
