Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, reportedly failed to disclose a series of meetings with foreign leaders on documents submitted in pursuit of a security clearance, including several meetings with Russian officials.
Kushner omitted a meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and a separate meeting with a Russian state-owned banking executive, the New York Times reported late Thursday. Kushner’s attorney told the Times the omissions were made in error.
The revelation comes as Kushner’s portfolio continues to grow and Trump’s aides ratchet up their infighting as a result of his ascension. Chief strategist Steve Bannon and Kushner have reportedly fought behind closed doors in recent weeks, and Bannon allies blamed Kushner for the release earlier this week of unflattering stories about Bannon’s removal from the National Security Council.
Kushner holds a temporary security clearance while the FBI processes his paperwork and required background check. His aides told the Times that they are working to produce a list of foreign contacts to the FBI in order to comply with disclosure requirements under the law.
Senior members of the Trump administration have been plagued by allegations of inappropriate ties to Russian officials during the campaign and transition.
Democrats have accused Trump campaign aides of colluding with Russian officials to leak emails that would damage the Hillary Clinton campaign before Election Day last year. Those claims have not been substantiated by several ongoing investigations in the House, Senate and Department of Justice.
The White House has defended Kushner’s contacts with foreign leaders by noting that his job on the transition team involved opening lines of communication with various foreign leaders ahead of Trump’s inauguration.
