PUBLISHED TO
The New York Times reports
Donald Trump ordered his chief of staff to give Jared Kushner a
top-secret security clearance over the objections of senior White House
legal counsel Don McGahn, the FBI, and the CIA, who flagged a number of
concerns about his foreign contacts and financial debt.
Only one month ago, Donald Trump told the New York Times he played no role whatsoever in obtaining Jared Kushner’s top-secret clearance. That, it turns out, is a lie. In fact, Don McGahn and then-chief of staff John Kelly were so bothered by the order to give Kushner the clearance that they both took the extraordinary step of detailing the order in a memo so there would be an official record. That’s highly unusual.
The Washington Post confirms the NYT report and goes even further, reporting Ivanka and Jared personally pressured Donald Trump to give Kushner top clearance and that Trump made it happen.
With that in mind, let’s revisit this Feb. 8, 2019, interview between Abby Huntsman of ABC News and Ivanka Trump. Asked if she and her husband received special treatment in obtaining their security clearances, without hesitation Ivanka dismisses the idea, saying, “The president had no involvement pertaining to my clearance or my husband’s clearance, zero.”
It’s truly stunning to see Ivanka Trump lie with such ease. And note the contempt in her voice as she mentions “anonymous leaks.”
Before John Kelly left the White House, there were reports for months that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump were trying to push him out. Given that he refused to grant Kushner’s security clearance, he’s probably the first person in either one of their lives to tell the spoiled couple no.
In the end, this is one more serious issue Democrats must now investigate. Kushner is deeply in debt to foreign countries and companies, and he now has access to the world’s most sensitive secrets. Even more startling, he went to Saudi Arabia this week for a private meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Why has he been dispatched to privately meet with the man who recently ordered a brutal murder of a Washington Post journalist? Kushner was not elected to represent the United States, and he’s never been confirmed to any diplomatic role.
He has no business whatsoever representing the business of the United States.
Only one month ago, Donald Trump told the New York Times he played no role whatsoever in obtaining Jared Kushner’s top-secret clearance. That, it turns out, is a lie. In fact, Don McGahn and then-chief of staff John Kelly were so bothered by the order to give Kushner the clearance that they both took the extraordinary step of detailing the order in a memo so there would be an official record. That’s highly unusual.
The Washington Post confirms the NYT report and goes even further, reporting Ivanka and Jared personally pressured Donald Trump to give Kushner top clearance and that Trump made it happen.
With that in mind, let’s revisit this Feb. 8, 2019, interview between Abby Huntsman of ABC News and Ivanka Trump. Asked if she and her husband received special treatment in obtaining their security clearances, without hesitation Ivanka dismisses the idea, saying, “The president had no involvement pertaining to my clearance or my husband’s clearance, zero.”
It’s truly stunning to see Ivanka Trump lie with such ease. And note the contempt in her voice as she mentions “anonymous leaks.”
Before John Kelly left the White House, there were reports for months that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump were trying to push him out. Given that he refused to grant Kushner’s security clearance, he’s probably the first person in either one of their lives to tell the spoiled couple no.
In the end, this is one more serious issue Democrats must now investigate. Kushner is deeply in debt to foreign countries and companies, and he now has access to the world’s most sensitive secrets. Even more startling, he went to Saudi Arabia this week for a private meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Why has he been dispatched to privately meet with the man who recently ordered a brutal murder of a Washington Post journalist? Kushner was not elected to represent the United States, and he’s never been confirmed to any diplomatic role.
He has no business whatsoever representing the business of the United States.
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