Trump son-in-law Kushner under FBI scrutiny in Russia probe - media reports

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Trump son-in-law Kushner under FBI scrutiny in Russia probe - media reports

REUTERS

 

White House senior advisor Jared Kushner arrives to join U.S. President Donald Trump and the rest of the U.S. delegation to meet with Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud at the Royal Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia May 20, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, a senior White House adviser, is under scrutiny by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the Russia probe, the Washington Post and NBC News reported on Thursday.

 

Kushner is being investigated because of his meetings in December and other possible interactions with the Russian ambassador and a banker from Moscow, the Post reported, citing people familiar with the investigation.

 

Kushner is the only current White House official known to be considered a key person in the probe, the newspaper reported.

 

The FBI, several congressional committees and a special counsel appointed by the Justice Department are looking into allegations of meddling by Russia in the 2016 U.S. election and possible ties between Trump's presidential campaign and Russian officials seeking to influence the election.

 

The controversy has engulfed Trump's administration since he fired FBI Director James Comey on May 10. Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations and Trump denies any collusion with Russia.

 

The interest in Kushner does not mean investigators suspect him of a crime or intend to charge him, the officials told NBC News.

It is not known whether Kushner has received any requests from the FBI for records, NBC News said.

 

One of Kushner's attorneys, Jamie Gorelick, said in a statement her client would cooperate with the investigation.

 

“Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings. He will do the same if he is contacted in connection with any other inquiry,” Gorelick said.

 

The FBI and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

(Reporting by Eric Walsh; Editing by Eric Beech and Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-26

[mtls2005]

It seems like he's toast but unlike his father he'll never don orange.

 

 

[tonray]

49 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

It seems like he's toast but unlike his father he'll never don orange.

 

 

Presidential pardon power can fix all ills...the worst thing the founders ever did. They could not completely rid themselves of their 'elite' status in society even when framing a Democracy. The pardon and the electoral college are 2 devices to prove that 'all men are NOT created equal in the eyes of law"

[FritsSikkink]

1 minute ago, tonray said:

Presidential pardon power can fix all ills...the worst thing the founders ever did. They could not completely rid themselves of their 'elite' status in society even when framing a Democracy. The pardon and the electoral college are 2 devices to prove that 'all men are NOT created equal in the eyes of law"

We will see how long there is a president who will protect him, the whole family could go down.

[mtls2005]

Presidential pardon power can fix all ills..

 

Pre-emptive reprieves/pardons (prior to conviction for crimes) are fairly rare I think?

[maewang99]

... and his revised immigration/tourist ban was rejected yesterday.

 

which he expected to be rejected...

even before he promised it.

 

 

[tonray]

11 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

Presidential pardon power can fix all ills..

 

Pre-emptive reprieves/pardons (prior to conviction for crimes) are fairly rare I think?

I was not referring to pre-emptive pardon. The fact is that Trump's team can behave in virtually anyway they see fit regardless of the laws and ethics involved because the lawyers have briefed them on the fact that no matter what happens, an eventual pardon makes everything go away. It's like being able to start a business venture without any fear of running out of money or worrying about silly things like laws and regulations...you can do anything you want !

Edited May 26, 2017 by tonray

[darksidedog]

39 minutes ago, maewang99 said:

... and his revised immigration/tourist ban was rejected yesterday.

 

which he expected to be rejected...

even before he promised it.

 

 

He is just tired from all the winning!

All that remains to be seen is how many rats jump off the ship, before it goes down.

[Andaman Al]

What amazes me about Kushner is that he has been given so many different appointments, his portfolio is like no other in the history of the White House, yet you never hear him say a word. He is a strange one, perfect for Ivanka - a rich mouse.  He needs to be worried about jail time, it would not go well.

[Emster23]

Should put out a list of Trump crowd not under investigation. Would be shorter.

[boomerangutang]

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

Presidential pardon power can fix all ills.

Pre-emptive reprieves/pardons (prior to conviction for crimes) are fairly rare I think?

However it happens, whether pre- or post- indictment, it will be a factor. Maybe, like Fat Boy Kim's grandfather, Trump will get himself declared 'President forever' ....and be able to issue presidential pardons from the graveyard.

[Andaman Al]

If still as a President, Trump issued a pardon to a member (s) of his own family, I cannot imagine the consequences. There would be so much rage in America the deaths from heart attack and high blood pressure would spike above the norm I am sure. It would be a fascinating spectator sport to see Trump pardon his family members if charges were brought against them.

 

This is why I think the Feds will amass the evidence and then take Trump out first, THEN they will bring charges against the hangers on and his little piggies. All in jail, one can but dream.

 

With a hooligan bully boy shove and an embarrassing speech at the NATO meeting, Trump has confirmed to real heads of state what a child it is who represents America on the international stage.

[heybruce]

Kushner is a New Jersey business man, a property developer.  If you can't trust someone like that to act ethically, who can you trust?

 

For those of you unfamiliar with the United States, the above is sarcasm.  Here's some more:

 

It would be terrible if Kushner had to leave the administration.  He's the one who is going to bring peace to the MidEast, re-organize government, end the opioid crisis.....

[55Jay]

I saw this nothing burger on another source and thought, oh yeah, the old ladies in the TVF Sewing Circle are gunna lose their ever-loving minds.     

[Jingthing]

This news is a bit old.

It was already leaked that someone very close to trump was in this situation.

The assumptions were that it was either Bannon or Kushner with the consensus on Kushner.

[soalbundy]

perhaps an offer will be made that can't be refused

[mtls2005]

Obviously he'll have to lawyer-up, but he should be very, very, very careful about misrepresenting the truth in interviews with the FBI. It seems obvious that he was swept up in intelligence gathering, by both domestic and foreign services. And he's left an easily-traced money trail to clandestine Russian services.

 

Bragging about the targeting success of his efforts with Cambridge Analytica and Giles-Parscale (with Russian help) in winning the close states (total of less than 80,000 votes), which tipped the Electoral College to Trump, probably wasn't the brightest thing to do?

 

I'd be willing to wager that the felony count over/under currently hanging over his head might 25?

 

He too pretty from prison.

[elgordo38]

Pssst Comey can you make this investigation of my son in law go away? Then his brain engages and he realizes that he fired Comey on May 10th. His brain is always playing catch up with his mouth. 

[tonray]

6 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

We will see how long there is a president who will protect him, the whole family could go down.

Pence has proven to be a good soldier...if necessary he will pardon the whole family.

[elgordo38]

2 hours ago, heybruce said:

Kushner is a New Jersey business man, a property developer.  If you can't trust someone like that to act ethically, who can you trust?

 

For those of you unfamiliar with the United States, the above is sarcasm.  Here's some more:

 

It would be terrible if Kushner had to leave the administration.  He's the one who is going to bring peace to the MidEast, re-organize government, end the opioid crisis.....

Leave to go where? The orange jump suit club?

[Andaman Al]

Just now, tonray said:

Pence has proven to be a good soldier...if necessary he will pardon the whole family.

What and risk going down himself? I don't think so. He will leave them on their own like rats jumping off a sinking ship.

[tonray]

3 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

What and risk going down himself? I don't think so. He will leave them on their own like rats jumping off a sinking ship.

That's the same they said about Gerald Ford...party loyalties over reasoning and doing what's right for the country. Exactly the same reason the Congress is allowing ethics violations to go unchallenged right now. I am absolutely convinced rats will stick together.

[heybruce]

11 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

What and risk going down himself? I don't think so. He will leave them on their own like rats jumping off a sinking ship.

That's not how it works. When Trump sees the writing on the wall he'll first reach an agreement with Pence on pardons, then resign.  Since high visibility investigations will be a huge embarrassment for the Republicans they'll support pardoning Trump and maybe family. 

 

Republicans will make lots of speeches about how it's best for the nation to move forward and put the election corruption unpleasantness behind us.  Fox News will do it's best to deflect attention with stories about the bad things Democrats have done and a few right wing conspiracy theories about the bad things Democrats are still doing.

[dunroaming]

7 hours ago, tonray said:

I was not referring to pre-emptive pardon. The fact is that Trump's team can behave in virtually anyway they see fit regardless of the laws and ethics involved because the lawyers have briefed them on the fact that no matter what happens, an eventual pardon makes everything go away. It's like being able to start a business venture without any fear of running out of money or worrying about silly things like laws and regulations...you can do anything you want !

Just like he said when referring to "grabbing them by the p*ssy!"  You can do anything you want!

[thaibeachlovers]

From the OP

The interest in Kushner does not mean investigators suspect him of a crime or intend to charge him, the officials told NBC News.

However, that won't stop the anti Trumpers turning this thread into another hatefest like all the others.

[dunroaming]

7 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

From the OP

The interest in Kushner does not mean investigators suspect him of a crime or intend to charge him, the officials told NBC News.

However, that won't stop the anti Trumpers turning this thread into another hatefest like all the others.

Yep! You sure got that right and boy is there plenty of ammunition out there!

[heybruce]

18 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

From the OP

The interest in Kushner does not mean investigators suspect him of a crime or intend to charge him, the officials told NBC News.

However, that won't stop the anti Trumpers turning this thread into another hatefest like all the others.

Good point.  After all, there have already been so many confirmed cases of people in the Trump campaign meeting with Russian spies, oligarchs, money launderers, etc., that another one isn't news.  It would be news if Kushner hadn't been meeting with the wrong sort.

[soalbundy]

This is going to get good, a flurry of ''FAKE NEWS'' and ''WITCH HUNT',' the orange will start to peel with anger.

[MisterTee]

11 minutes ago, heybruce said:

Good point.  After all, there have already been so many confirmed cases of people in the Trump campaign meeting with Russian spies, oligarchs, money launderers, etc., that another one isn't news.  It would be news if Kushner hadn't been meeting with the wrong sort.

Kushner is  the wrong sort.

He's in good company.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

 

Quote

One of Kushner's attorneys, Jamie Gorelick, said in a statement her client would cooperate with the investigation.

 

Interesting that Kushner is using a former Deputy AG in the Clinton Administration as his defense counsel.

 

Although, if you read up on Gorelick's history, she's had her own share of controversies, including a financial scandal during her tenure as a board member at Fannie Mae. So in that sense, perhaps, she's a good fit for the Trump family.