September 1, 2023 - Washington, D.C. - On Thursday, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, sent a letter to Chairman James Comer as part of Committee Democrats’ investigation into the billions of dollars Jared Kushner’s investment firm, A Fin Management LLC (Affinity), has received from Gulf monarchies, including $2 billion from Saudi Arabia.  The letter urges Chairman Comer to compel the production of documents in light of Mr. Kushner’s continued refusal to cooperate voluntarily.

“I am encouraged by your recent acknowledgement that ‘what Kushner did crossed the line of ethics’ and your repeated assertions that our Committee is ‘investigating foreign nationals’ attempts to target and coerce high-ranking U.S. officials’ family members by providing money or other benefits in exchange for certain actions.’ . . .  In light of these concerns, I urge you to pursue a serious and objective investigation by issuing a subpoena to Affinity and requiring the firm to comply with my February 15, 2023, request for documents regarding its receipt of billions of dollars from Gulf monarchies shortly after Mr. Kushner left a senior White House position he used to reshape U.S. foreign policy toward Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in Saudi Arabia’s favor—a request you have thus far allowed Mr. Kushner to ignore and defy,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.

The letter follows Chairman Comer’s appearance on CNN in which he acknowledged that Kushner “crossed the line of ethics” by accepting $2 billion from the Saudi government in his private investment firm two months after he left his White House position, a role which allowed him to shape Middle East policy.  Chairman Comer also asserted that Committee Republicans will investigate foreign nationals’ attempts to target U.S. officials for political gain. 

Since Committee Democrats launched this investigation in the 117th Congress, additional facts have come to light that have added to the actual and potential ethical violations posed by Mr. Kushner’s conduct. 

According to public reporting, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar each also invested $200 million with Affinity.  In March 2023, Affinity reported that it had over $3 billion of assets under management, 99% of which was “attributable to clients who are non-United States persons.”

Chairman Comer has previously stated that he doesn’t “disagree with the Democrats and their criticism of the previous administration,” and he has also said that this Committee will “have some questions for Trump and some of his family members, including Jared Kushner.”   

Committee Republicans cannot claim to be “investigating foreign nationals’ attempts to target and coerce high-ranking U.S. officials’ family members by providing money or other benefits in exchange for certain actions” without examining the former Administration’s plethora of foreign financial entanglements.  For example, President Trump’s receipt of millions of dollars from foreign governments while in office, a blatant violation of the Foreign Emoluments Clause of the Constitution, and Ivanka Trump’s corresponding receipt of fast-tracked trademark approvals from China and Japan while serving as a White House senior advisor.

Today’s letter follows Committee Democrats’ repeated requests for information regarding foreign payments to Affinity, including requesting Chairman Comer’s support in their investigation. 

On February 13, 2023, Ranking Member Raskin sent a letter to Chairman James Comer, inviting him to join Committee Democrats’ efforts in seeking information about the profoundly serious ethics concerns raised by Affinity’s foreign funding.  After Chairman Comer failed to support Committee Democrats’ investigation, Ranking Member Raskin renewed Committee Democrats’ requests for Mr. Kushner and Affinity to produce documents and communications.

Despite Committee Democrats’ repeated efforts to obtain relevant documents to understand the full scope of Mr. Kushner’s foreign business dealings and the legal, constitutional, and ethical problems they raise, Chairman Comer has allowed Mr. Kushner to ignore and defy these requests.

Click here to read today’s letter.
Source: Congressman Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Democrats