Democrats criticize reports of Jeffries meeting with Kushner
Democrats and critics of US President Donald Trump reacted with distrust to reports of a meeting between House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law. According to The Guardian World, The New York Times reported on talks about possible areas of cooperation.
The meeting reported by the newspaper took place several months before the US midterm elections scheduled for November. The outlet notes that Democrats are considered favorites in the race for control of the House of Representatives. If the party wins a majority, Jeffries could become speaker of the House.
In that case, Democrats are expected to use their oversight powers for active investigations into the Trump administration’s activities, including the possible personal enrichment of the president and members of his family.
Reaction to the reports
Jeffries’ office did not respond to a request for comment on the meeting. Former President Barack Obama aide Tommy Vietor criticized possible cooperation with Kushner. He said that Kushner holds no official government position and expressed the view that interaction with him should be limited to demands for documents and subpoenas.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland said on NBC’s Meet the Press that he does not object to meetings to discuss ideas. At the same time, he stressed that the meeting itself and the emergence of concrete results are different things.
Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, a Trump critic and member of the House committee investigating the attack on the Capitol, also questioned the purpose of the meeting.
Investigation into conflict of interest
In April, Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee launched an investigation into a possible financial conflict of interest involving Kushner. It concerns funds raised from Gulf countries by his private business during the period when Kushner served as the government’s special envoy for peace.
Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, the leading Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said in an April letter to Kushner that diplomatic work is incompatible with financial dependence on the Saudi monarchy. The Guardian World also notes that concerns had previously been raised about a possible conflict of interest because of Kushner’s income from foreign states while he worked on issues related to conflicts in Ukraine, Iran, and Gaza.
