Politics · United States · 1 hr ago
Watchdog sues over Jared Kushner’s role as Trump envoy
A watchdog group sued over Jared Kushner’s work as a US envoy for President Donald Trump.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington says Kushner exercises government authority without Senate confirmation or public financial disclosures.
The group argues that his diplomatic work and investment business create conflict-of-interest risks.
Kushner’s firm manages more than $6 billion in assets, and the suit says about 99% belongs to foreign investors, including funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
CREW wants Kushner removed or required to file financial disclosures, and says he should not hold the role without Senate confirmation.
Kushner’s lawyer says the suit has no merit and that ethics lawyers have reviewed his unpaid volunteer service and found it compliant.
The White House says private envoys have a long history, while the lawsuit challenges whether Kushner can legally exercise government power in this role.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington sued the Trump administration over Jared Kushner’s role as a top envoy.
The watchdog group says Kushner exercises government authority without Senate confirmation or public financial disclosures.
The lawsuit cites potential conflicts between Kushner’s diplomatic work and his investment firm’s interests.
It seeks to bar him from the government position or require financial disclosures.
Kushner’s attorney and the White House say his volunteer service complies with ethics requirements.
- Who
- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington sued over Jared Kushner’s government role.
- What
- The lawsuit challenges the legality of Kushner’s role as a top envoy and raises conflict-of-interest concerns.
- When
- Wednesday.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- CREW says Kushner exercises government authority without Senate confirmation or public financial disclosures, while having business interests that could overlap with his diplomatic work.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
Kushner’s attorney and the Trump administration
Legality of the role
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
CREW says Kushner should be barred from the position without Senate confirmation.
Kushner’s attorney and the Trump administration
Kushner’s attorney says his volunteer government service complies with applicable ethics requirements.
Disclosure and conflicts
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
CREW says Kushner has not filed financial disclosures and that his business interests create a heightened risk of conflicts.
Kushner’s attorney and the Trump administration
The White House says his business activities are separate from his diplomatic engagements.
Nature of the service
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
CREW argues that declining a salary or formal title does not remove constitutional or disclosure obligations.
Kushner’s attorney and the Trump administration
The White House says Kushner serves as a volunteer at the president’s request and pays his own expenses.
CREW filed a lawsuit challenging the legality of Kushner’s government role.
Kushner’s attorney said the lawsuit was without merit and that ethics counsel had reviewed his volunteer service.
- Plaintiff
- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
- Defendant’s role
- Jared Kushner is a top envoy for the Trump administration
- Requested remedy
- Bar Kushner from the position or require financial disclosures
- Investment firm assets
- More than $6 billion under management
- Foreign ownership
- Approximately 99% of the firm’s assets are owned by foreign investors
2 sources
What people are saying
Kushner is wielding tremendous influence internationally “without having been confirmed by the Senate and without having filed a single financial disclosure,
is without merit.
His personal business activities have nothing to do with his diplomatic engagements, which he conducts on a volunteer basis at the President’s request and while paying his own expenses
The use of private diplomatic envoys to deal with delicate international situations is a presidential practice that dates back to George Washington’s presidency.