Jared Kushner, former White House advisor and son-in-law to Donald Trump, revealed on Wednesday that Democratic leader in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, upset Kushner’s mother by telling her friends that her son would go to jail over his ties to Russia.
Kushner’s ‘Distress’ Over Jail Claims
In a conversation on the Lex Fridman Podcast, Kushner disclosed the distress Schumer’s comments caused to his family. He mentioned how he assured his mother that they had not done anything wrong regarding Russia. He stated, “But you know, she’d call me [to] say … ‘Our friends on the Upper East Side were talking with Chuck Schumer, who says Jared’s going to jail.’”
Schumer, the senior senator from New York, had been the Democratic minority leader in the US Senate during Donald Trump’s presidency. He currently holds the position of the majority leader since 2021. Kushner, married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, served as Trump’s chief adviser both during the campaign and while in the White House.
The Trump administration faced extensive investigations and suspicions regarding their connections with Russia and Moscow’s alleged interference in the 2016 US election. Kushner’s interactions with high-ranking Russians were closely scrutinized during this time. Marty Baron, former editor of The Washington Post, recently revealed in a memoir that Kushner had attempted to have him fired due to the paper’s reporting on this issue.
Robert Mueller, the special counsel appointed by the justice department, conducted thorough investigations and issued a detailed report. No collusion was established between the Trump campaign and Moscow.
Kushner’s Saudi Ties
Since Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election, Kushner has distanced himself from his father-in-law’s political affairs. However, he remains a prominent figure with various business interests, including lucrative ties with Saudi investors, which have been scrutinized for their connection to his time in the White House.
In the interview with Fridman, Kushner expressed his concerns during the Mueller investigations, fearing misrepresentations could lead to legal consequences. He stated, “I felt like this is one of those things where they’re going to try and catch you, and then if you step on the line, they catch with one misrepresentation, they’re gonna try to put you in jail or worse.”
Who is Jared Kushner, and Why is He Important?
Despite lacking prior political experience, Kushner held a significant portfolio of responsibilities within the Trump administration. Notably, he played a central role in developing and presenting the Trump administration’s Middle East peace plan, aiming to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and propose a two-state solution.
He was also a key advocate for and played a crucial role in the passage of the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill aimed at reforming the federal prison system and reducing recidivism.
Kushner’s political influence was not without controversy, mainly due to his wide-ranging portfolio, lack of prior political experience, and potential conflicts of interest stemming from his business dealings. Opinions on his political contributions vary, with some viewing him as a significant influence within the Trump administration and others criticizing his approach to various policy issues.
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
