Tag: Jared Kushner

New York regulator asks Deutsche, other banks about Kushner loans: source

The following article article by Karen Freifeld was posted on the Reuters website February 28, 2018:

Credit: Reuters/James Lawler Duggan

New York’s state banking regulator asked Deutsche Bank AG (DBKGn.DE) and two other lenders for information on their relationships with U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and White House senior adviser Jared Kushner and his family’s real estate company, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) made the requests to Deutsche Bank, Signature Bank and New York Community Bank for information on loans and other financial arrangements including lines of credit and loan guarantees a week ago, the person said. Continue reading “New York regulator asks Deutsche, other banks about Kushner loans: source”

Kushner’s Family Business Received Loans After White House Meetings

The following article by Jesse Drucker, Kate Kelly and Ben Protess was posted on the New York Times website February 28, 2018:

Apollo, the private equity firm, and Citigroup made large loans last year to the family real estate business of Jared Kushner, President Trump’s senior adviser.

Early last year, a private equity billionaire started paying regular visits to the White House.

Joshua Harris, a founder of Apollo Global Management, was advising Trump administration officials on infrastructure policy. During that period, he met on multiple occasions with Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, said three people familiar with the meetings. Among other things, the two men discussed a possible White House job for Mr. Harris. Continue reading “Kushner’s Family Business Received Loans After White House Meetings”

The most ominous line in the new Jared Kushner story

The following article by Aaron Blake was posed on the Washington Post website February 28,2018:

Officials in four countries discussed ways to manipulate Jared Kushner, President Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

As a new Washington Post report about Jared Kushner notes, it’s not unusual for foreign governments to seek ways to leverage White House staff members. So the fact that at least four countries tried to do so with President Trump’s son-in-law isn’t a complete shock.

What’s more troublesome for Kushner and the White House, though, is how much easier he might have made it. Continue reading “The most ominous line in the new Jared Kushner story”

Kushner’s overseas contacts raise concerns as foreign officials seek leverage

The following article by Shane Harris, Carol D. Leonnig, Greg Jaffe and Josh Dawsey was posted on the Washington Post website February 27, 2018:

Officials in four countries discussed ways to manipulate Jared Kushner, President Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law. (Bastien Inzaurralde/The Washington Post)

Officials in at least four countries have privately discussed ways they can manipulate Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, by taking advantage of his complex business arrangements, financial difficulties and lack of foreign policy experience, according to current and former U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reports on the matter.

Among those nations discussing ways to influence Kushner to their advantage were the United Arab Emirates, China, Israel and Mexico, the current and former officials said. Continue reading “Kushner’s overseas contacts raise concerns as foreign officials seek leverage”

Sources: Mueller probe stymies Kushner security clearance

The following article by Shimon Prokupecz, Jeremy Diamond and Dana Bash was posted on the CNN website and updated February 27, 2018:

Washington (CNN) — Jared Kushner has been unable to obtain a full security clearance in part because of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, is unlikely to obtain the full clearance as long as the special counsel’s probe is ongoing, one of the sources said. Continue reading “Sources: Mueller probe stymies Kushner security clearance”

Controversies pile up for White House, alarming GOP

The following article by Jonathan Easley was posted on the Hill website February 21, 2018:

Credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

President Trump’s White House is consumed by controversies on several fronts, putting the administration on the defensive at a time when Republicans are increasingly worried about their electoral prospects.

Republicans would be content to spend every day between now and Election Day focused on the GOP’s tax-cut bill and the economy. But those efforts are complicated by the sheer volume of controversies the White House is juggling. Continue reading “Controversies pile up for White House, alarming GOP”

Kushner Resists Losing Access as Kelly Tackles Security Clearance Issues

The following article by Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Maggie Haberman was posted on the New York Times website February 20, 2018:

Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, is one of dozens of White House officials operating under interim security clearances because of issues raised by the F.B.I. during their background checks, officials say. Credit Tom Brenner, The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, is resisting giving up his access to highly classified information, prompting an internal struggle with John F. Kelly, the White House chief of staff, over who should be allowed to see some of the nation’s most sensitive secrets, according to White House officials and others briefed on the matter.

Mr. Kushner is one of dozens of White House officials operating under interim security clearances because of issues raised by the F.B.I. during their background checks, according to the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the clearances. The practice has drawn added scrutiny because of Rob Porter, the former staff secretary who resigned under pressure this month after domestic abuse allegations against him became public. Continue reading “Kushner Resists Losing Access as Kelly Tackles Security Clearance Issues”

Kelly makes changes to White House security clearance process after abuse allegations against top aide

The following article by Robert Costa was posted on the Washington Post website February 16, 2018:

Here’s what the changes to the security clearance process in the White House could mean for Jared Kushner, President Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law. (Video: Bastien Inzaurralde/Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, under pressure over his handling of allegations of domestic abuse against a top aide, has approved an overhaul of how the White House manages security-clearance investigations, acknowledging missteps but putting the onus on the FBI and the Justice Department to now hand-deliver updates and provide more information.

The five-page document, signed by Kelly on Friday, was obtained by The Washington Post. Continue reading “Kelly makes changes to White House security clearance process after abuse allegations against top aide”

Accusations Against Aide Renew Attention on White House Security Clearances

The following article by Michael D. Shear and Matthew Rosenberg was posted on the New York Times website February 12, 2018:

Credit: Tom Brenner/The New York Times

WASHINGTON — One week after the 2016 election, President-elect Donald J. Trump tweeted that he was “not trying to get ‘top level security clearance’ for my children,” calling such claims “a typically false news story.” But he said nothing at the time about his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Nearly 15 months later, Mr. Kushner, now a senior White House adviser with a broad foreign policy portfolio that requires access to some of the intelligence community’s most closely guarded secrets, still has not succeeded in securing a permanent security clearance. The delay has left him operating on an interim status that allows him access to classified material while the F.B.I. continues working on his full background investigation.

Mr. Kushner’s status was similar to the status of others in the White House, including Rob Porter, the staff secretary who resigned last week after his two former wives alleged that he physically and emotionally abused them during their marriages. Continue reading “Accusations Against Aide Renew Attention on White House Security Clearances”

Husband of former Trump household aide scores government job

The following article by Andrew Restuccia was posted on the Politico website February 2, 2018:

The home contractor from New Jersey is now working as an official in the Environmental Protection Agency’s New York regional office.

President Trump has made a habit of appointing people with close ties to his family or businesses rather than experienced policymakers or political hands. Credit: Evan Vucci/AP Photo

A home improvement contractor married to one of Donald and Melania Trump’s former household staffers is now working as an official at the Environmental Protection Agency, the latest example of someone with a personal connection to the Trump family finding work in the administration.

New Jersey-based Steve Kopec joined EPA’s Region 2 office in New York as a special assistant on Dec. 18, according to a memo obtained by POLITICO. “Steve comes to us from private industry, where he fashioned his career around customer service and organizational efficiencies,” EPA Region 2 Administrator Pete Lopez wrote in the memo. “Steve is an experienced manager with skills in team building, management and organization.” Continue reading “Husband of former Trump household aide scores government job”