Jared Kushner may retain the controversial Saudi investment in his private equity firm, even if his father-in-law, Donald Trump, is reelected as U.S. president.
What Happened: In an interview with Fox News aired on Wednesday, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) is obligated to uphold its global commitments to any investor. Consequently, the fund would continue to support Kushner’s firm with the $2 billion funding, regardless of the potential for a Trump presidency.
Bin Salman, the de facto ruler, expressed no concerns about PIF’s financing of Kushner, despite Kushner’s close relationship with Trump. Kushner had previously served as a senior advisor to the former president during his time in the White House.
“We look to opportunities and investment. We have investment, a lot of investment around the globe, a lot of people, and economic opportunity,” bin Salman said.
When questioned about whether the financing would influence decisions within the new Trump administration, bin Salman highlighted the significance of Saudi Arabia’s global connections.
“So, is that gonna affect President Trump's decision if he becomes president, that mean[s] that gonna affect every president in the world and every person in the world… because that is going directly to have some sort of interest in something to do with Saudi Arabia,” he said.
See Also: Jared Kushner’s $2B Saudi Funding ‘Biggest Political Scandal … In Modern Politics,’ Says Congressman
Why It Matters: Following Trump’s departure from office after an unsuccessful election, Kushner established his private equity fund, Affinity Partners. Subsequently, he secured the controversial $2 billion investment from the PIF.
Democratic Congress members raised concerns about potential ethical breaches related to this Saudi investment, alleging a “quid-pro-quo” arrangement.
In mid-August, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) accused Kushner of crossing ethical boundaries by accepting the $2 billion investment. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) also brought up Kushner’s Saudi deal during a House Committee hearing.
Democrats have been advocating for an investigation to uncover the terms and implications of Saudi Arabia’s involvement.
It’s important to note that the Kushners have distanced themselves from Trump’s current campaign, citing family commitments. Nonetheless, some insiders speculate on the possibility of their return to the White House if Trump succeeds in the general election.
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