Will revelations about Kushner curb
his influence?
CBS
News has confirmed Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law and senior
adviser, discussed setting up back-channel communications between the Trump transition team and Russia during a
December meeting. President Trump told the New York Times that he has
"total confidence in him."
But the
negative stories surrounding Kushner the last week could impact his influence
with the president.
Kushner
is a constant presence alongside his father-in-law, wearing several hats as a
family member with the ear of the president of the United States to a policy
adviser who led a recent $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, reports CBS
News correspondent Juliana Goldman. CBS
News
President
Donald Trump isn't a man who gets too bogged down in rules. Especially when it
comes to how he lives his life or runs his White House. CNN
More
Eye Opener: Jared Kushner Faces
Growing Scrutiny
CBS News has confirmed Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law and
senior adviser, discussed setting up back-channel communications with between
the Trump transition team and Russia. CBS
More
Reports say
investigators believe he has relevant information, but he is not necessarily
suspected of a crime.
The FBI is looking
into potential Russian meddling in the 2016 election and links with Mr Trump's
campaign. The president denies any collusion.
Mr Kushner's
lawyer said his client would co-operate with any inquiry.
President Trump
has described the Russia investigations as "the single greatest witch hunt
of a politician in American history".
US intelligence
agencies believe Moscow tried to tip the election in favour of the Republican,
who beat his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. BBC News
Investigators examine
Kushner's meeting with Russian banker
In
addition to Jared Kushner's meeting with Russian Envoy Sergey Kislyak, congressional and federal investigators are
also closely scrutinizing another meeting Mr. Trump's son-in-law and top aide
had during the transition period, the New York Times reported Monday.
In
mid-December, Kushner met with Russian banker, Sergey Gorkov, who is an
associate of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Gorkov
is the head of Vnesheconombank, a state-owned Russian entity that is the
subject of U.S. government sanctions. Gorkov was trained by Russia's Federal
Security Service (FSB). He has not played a diplomatic role for Putin, which
prompted questions about why he was meeting with Kushner during the transition,
according to the Times, which cited current and former officials in its report.
CBS
News
Attorneys For Jared
Kushner Say He’s Willing to Testify About Russian Meetings Before Congress
It was reported that White House senior advisor —
and Donald Trump’s son-in-law — Jared Kushner is currently “under FBI
scrutiny” in the Russia probe. It had previously been speculated that he was the
“senior White House official” that the Washington Post reported was a
“person of interest” in the investigation last week.
After this news broke, attorneys for Kushner told Politico
that he’d discuss his meetings with Russians before Congress, a sentiment he
has expressed before.
Lawyers for Jared Kushner said on
Thursday that the White House senior adviser would be willing to testify before
Congress about his past meetings with Russian officials after news broke that
he was reportedly being scrutinized in the FBI investigation into connections
between Trump associates and Russia.
Kushner, who met at least once
last year with Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, as well as with
Russian banker, Sergey Gorkov, had previously said he’d be willing to
speak before Congress on the matter, a sentiment he reiterated Thursday night.
Media ITE
Trump
Stands By Kushner: ‘Jared is Doing a Great Job For the Country’
Donald Trump is standing by Jared Kushner.
In a statement to the New York Times, published late Sunday night,
the 45th President of the United States said his son-in-law was doing a “great
job for the country” and that he had “total confidence” in his performance thus
far.
“Jared is doing a great job for
the country,” Trump told the Times. “I have total confidence in him. He
is respected by virtually everyone and is working on programs that will save
our country billions of dollars. In addition to that, and perhaps more
importantly, he is a very good person.”
The statement was embedded in a
broader piece from all star reporters, Glenn Thrush, Maggie Haberman
and Sharon LaFraniere, about the growing scandal currently engulfing Kushner about his Russian connections. According
to the report, Trump’s words are in contrast to his actions in the West Wing,
where he has increasingly chided his son-in-law and included him in diatribes
against his broader staff. Media
ITE
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