Do You Believe Jared Kushner?

24 Jul, 2017

Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and a senior White House adviser, said on Monday he “did not collude” with Russia and had roughly four meetings with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign and presidential transition.

In a written statement released ahead of his scheduled appearance before lawmakers in closed-door sessions, Kushner said his initial security clearance form had been submitted prematurely in error and had omitted all foreign contacts.

“I did not collude, nor know of anyone else in the campaign who colluded, with any foreign government,” Kushner said.

“I had no improper contacts. I have not relied on Russian funds to finance my business activities in the private sector,” he said.

Kushner faces two days of closed-door questioning from Congress as lawmakers try to determine whether Trump’s campaign enlisted Russia’s help to win the White House in last year’s election.

Kushner is scheduled to address the Senate Intelligence Committee on Monday and the House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Tuesday.

Trump has been dogged by allegations that his campaign aides worked with Russia, which U.S. intelligence agencies have accused of interfering in the election. Moscow has denied any interference, and Trump says his campaign did not collude with Moscow.

Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. released emails this month that showed Trump Jr. appeared to welcome the prospect of damaging information from the Russian government about Trump’s Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Members of both committees say they are eager to hear about the June 2016 meeting involving Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. Kushner and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort were also at the meeting.

Kushner described it as a waste of time.

Reuters

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