The Kushners Thought the White House Would Bring Invincibility, But They Got the Opposite

On Sunday, the New York Times put out an extensive article documenting the history of the Kushner family’s real estate dealings and potential corruption due to their close ties to the White House.

37-year-old Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Trump, remains a White House senior adviser, despite having his security clearance downgraded in February. Many believe that his top-secret security clearance was revoked due to his business dealings, which he failed to disclose on his official security clearance forms multiple times.

In addition to being in the crossfire of the special counsel’s Russia investigation, Kushner’s troubles seem to be mounting, as his past loan with Deutsche Bank has also come under fire and is now being investigated by federal prosecutors. New York state regulators are also looking into Kushner’s loans from two other banks, including lines of credit to Jared Kushner.

His White House meetings with lenders and partners of Kushner Companies have raised multiple ethical questions about business interests and his role in the Trump administration. Earlier this year, The Washington Post reported that foreign officials from countries like United Arab Emirates, China, Israel and Mexico had actively discussed how to manipulate Kushner, using Kushner’s past business ties as leverage.

While Kushner’s ongoing business troubles and White House quagmire has been well-documented, the American public may not be as familiar with his father, Charles Kushner. Kushner’s father went from a real-estate mogul to a felon at an Alabama prison camp after pleading guilty to 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign donations.

After Jared had received a high-ranking position at the White House, a friend of Charles claimed that Charles hoped it would spell personal redemption via presidential pardon. While the Kushners might have thought the White House would relieve some of their burdens, instead they’ve been put under a microscope, with each of their companies and financial transactions now being watched like a hawk.

Though Charles Kushner denied that his companies have come under financial duress due to investors’ worries of guilt by association, two of his major Manhattan properties are on creditors’ watch lists, including one after foreign investors backed out. Federal prosecutors and the SEC are also investigating whether one of Charles Kushner’s daughters dangled White House influence before prospective Chinese investors.

Perhaps most disconcertingly, as the business dealings of the Kushner family are repeatedly scrutinized for ethical and legal wrongdoing, Kushner continues to meet with foreign officials on behalf of our country, including a recent meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the end of last month.