Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump, has been accused of engaging in a level of corruption that is unprecedented in U.S. foreign relations by a former Obama administration official on Wednesday.
What Happened: Ben Rhodes, who served as the deputy national security adviser under President Barack Obama, made these allegations against Kushner during a recent appearance on MSNBC’s “Alex Wagner Tonight.”
Rhodes pointed out that Kushner, who had no prior expertise or qualifications, was involved in developing hotels in the Balkans, particularly in Serbia and Albania. The funding for these projects, which reportedly came from foreign sources, including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
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“This is not subtle corruption that we’re looking at,” Rhodes said.
"This is a guy, Jared Kushner, who had no expertise, no qualification whatsoever to be in the White House while he was there. He made it his account to work in the Gulf Arab states. He basically helped lead the cover-up for [Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud]. Get him in from the cold after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi."
He also highlighted Kushner’s role in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East, and his firm’s $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia, which Rhodes believes could influence U.S. foreign policy if Trump is re-elected.
Why It Matters: Despite these allegations, Kushner defended his actions, stating that his firm always follows the laws and rules.
Kushner, who was responsible for Middle East policy during his time in the Trump administration, secured a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia six months after leaving the White House. Rhodes suggested that this investment could influence U.S. foreign policy if Trump returns to the Oval Office after the November election.
Meanwhile, Mary Trump suggested that the way to hold Jared accountable is to reopen the investigation into his $2 billion Saudi deal. She noted that while the House Oversight Committee initiated an investigation into it in 2022, it was blocked by the Republican majority.
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This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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