The New York Times has reported that President Trump's son in law, is now in the hot seat. Jared Kushner will be questioned by the Senate Ethics Committee, as part of its probe into connections between President Trump and the Kremlin. Kushner will be asked about two meetings he set up with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
The White House confirmed a meeting that Kushner arranged in early December at Trump Tower. Kushner met with Kislyak and former deputy security adviser Michael Flynn. The New York Times reports that there was another meeting later that month, which was not made public.
The additional meetings
The Times states that Sergey Kislyak requested a second meeting, but Jared Kushner did not attend. He instead sent a deputy in his place. Later at the Russian Ambassadors request, Kushner met with Sergey Gorkov, the head of Vnesheconobank. It is routine for members of a presidential transition, team to meet with foreign leaders. A spokesperson from the Whitehouse, Hope Hicks, indicated that nothing untoward was discussed in these gatherings. Even so, the continued revelation of Trump associates meeting with leaders from the Kremlin, raise eyebrows.
Why eyebrows are raised
When Vladimir Putin began causing problems in the Ukraine, and he annexed Crimea, The Obama administration placed sanctions against Russia, which included Vnesheconobank.
Now we have Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of then-President-elect Trump, meeting with an official of that bank. The Senate Ethics Committee, says Mr. Kushner himself is not being investigated. Still, Kushner should be on guard. Others who have had dealings with the Russian envoy have not faired so well.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions, essentially lied under oath, by failing to disclose a meeting with Kislyak.
He was pressured into recusing himself from all inquiries into ties to Russia. Mike Flynn was fired because he misled the Vice President regarding his conversations with the Russian Ambassador. Jared Kushner could be innocent of any wrongdoing, but his actions certainly are suspect. The FBI is investigating his father-in-law, The President of the United States, as well as Trump associates for possible collusion with Russian officials. Now Jared Kushner's name has been added to a list that just keeps growing.
