Former Obama advisor: Kushner engaged in ‘level of corruption that we’ve just

Former Obama Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes said that President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner engaged in a “level of corruption that we’ve just never seen” when talking about his firm’s recent investments overseas. 

Rhodes said that Kushner engaged in corruption when asked about The New York Times’ recent reporting which detailed that 99 percent of his investment fund’s, “Affinity Partners,” money came from foreign sources. The outlet also reported Kushner is working on developing hotels in the Balkans, specifically in Serbia and Albania. The outlet also noted that the firm has taken money from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

“Well, in a word, entirely, Alex,” Rhodes told MSNBC’s Alex Wagner during his Wednesday appearance on “Alex Wagner Tonight.” 

“I mean, look, this is not subtle corruption that we’re looking at,” he continued. “This is a guy, Jared Kushner, who had no expertise, no qualification whatsoever to be in the White House while he was there. He made it his account to work in the Gulf Arab states. He basically helped lead the cover-up for MBS. Get him in from the cold after the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.” 

Rhodes said Kushner securing a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia six months after leaving the White House is a way for the Saudi to have an influence on U.S. foreign policy if Trump returns to the Oval Office after the November election. 

“What they think he can do for them if there is a second Trump term,” Rhodes said. “And basically, what we can take from that investment is that in a second Trump term, US foreign policy in the Middle East and around the world will be made entirely with the interests of Mohammed bin Salman in mind.” 

Kushner oversaw Middle East policy during his time in the Trump administration. The investment was scrutinized after The Times’s 2022 report said that the Saudi sovereign’s advisory panel was in favor of giving funds to Kushner’s firm, arguing because of his “inexperience,” but the decision was reversed by a bigger board headed by the Saudi Crown Prince’s Mohammed bin Salman. 

“He chose to work on issues in the Middle East, and he chose to work with the Gulf Arab states, knowing that the payout would be on the back end,” Rhodes said, pointing to the impeachment inquiry into President Biden by House Republican, alleging his son, Hunter, used access to his father to profit off of it. 

“And here we have the president’s son in law who worked in the White House, unlike hunter Biden, who’s collected $2 billion, on the back end of his service, now he’s got his, father-in-law running for president. United States,” Rhodes said. “Right? This is not only unusual, this is unprecedented.” 

Kushner defended himself and his firm’s action regarding conflicts-of-interest allegations when asked by The Times. 

“Following the laws and the rules is something we always do,” he told the outlet. “Perception, I’ve learned that from my time in politics, is important. But I can’t control what everyone is going to write or say about me.”

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said back in August that Kushner crossed “crossed the line of ethics” by accepting a $2 billion investment.

“This is just putting a price tag on American foreign policy,” Rhodes said. “This is a level of corruption that we’ve just never seen, and it’s hiding in plain sight.”