FBI Has Already Started the Kushner-Saudi Criminal Investigation

We have learned that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has already launched a wide-reaching, albeit early investigation into Jared Kusher’s ties to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after receiving complaints from several congresspeople.

The story of Jared Kushner’s connections to the Saudi government is a cause for concern for many Americans. Despite objections from the main Saudi sovereign wealth fund’s advisers, the fund led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman invested $2 billion in Kushner’s private equity firm, Affinity Partners. This investment was made just six months after Kushner left the White House, where he played a leading role in defending Crown Prince Mohammed after U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that he had approved the killing and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi columnist for The Washington Post.

The objections of the main Saudi sovereign wealth fund’s advisers were based on concerns about the inexperience of the Affinity Fund management, the possibility that the kingdom would be responsible for the bulk of the investment and risk, unsatisfactory due diligence on the fledgling firm’s operations, and an excessive proposed asset management fee. The objections also cited “public relations risks” from Mr. Kushner’s prior role as a senior adviser to his father-in-law, former President Donald J. Trump.

Despite these objections, the full board of the $620 billion Public Investment Fund overruled the panel and invested in Kushner’s private equity firm. The largest share of money came from the Public Investment Fund led by MBS, who personally overstepped recommendations by a Saudi panel advising him against investing in the firm.

What is concerning is that Jared Kushner was able to legally conceal the identity of his investors and list them only as “non-United States persons” on his SEC form. Furthermore, the concealment of Kushner’s money sources raised “very serious issues” about his financial ventures, according to Sen. Ron Wyden, the chair of the Senate Finance Committee.

Kushner’s financial ties to the Saudi government are not the only cause for concern. Trump’s LIV golf tournament is being funded for an undisclosed amount by the Saudi Arabian government, and both Trump and Kushner have received criticism for their close ties to the Saudi prince and his allies.

The relationships between Kushner and Trump and the Saudi Arabian government persist despite criticisms of the Crown Prince by human rights organizations for abuses in the country, including its treatment of women and political dissidents. The CIA also believes the country is responsible for the murder of Khashoggi.

The fact that the former senior adviser to the President of the United States was able to secure a massive investment from a foreign government with close ties to the White House is alarming. The potential for conflicts of interest and future favors is apparent, and the lack of transparency in reporting investments is a cause for concern. It raises questions about who really has the interests of the American people at heart and who is looking out for their own financial gain.