Named a person of interest in the FBI’s Russian probe, 36-year-old Trump senior adviser Jared Kushner finds himself snared in incidental data collection, after tapping the phone of Russian Amb. Sergey Kislyak. Unlike former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn who finds himself in hot water for not disclosing paid consulting gigs in Russia and Turkey, Kushner has nothing to hide in his contacts with the Russian ambassador. Kushner reportedly tried to set up “back channel” communications during the transition with Kislyak, hoping that once 70-year-old President Donald Trump was sworn in the tough work of rebuilding U.S.-Russian relations would begin. When former President Barack Obama ejected 35 Russian diplomats for alleged meddling in the 2016 campaign Dec. 29, 2016, Flynn and other Trump transition officials scrambled to prevent Kremlin retaliation.
Unlike the Democrats and media accusing Trump campaign officials conspiring with the Kremlin to win the election, Kushner and Flynn tried to reverse the worst U.S.-Russian relations since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Evicting 35 Russian diplomats from Washington Dec. 28, 2016, Obama left the incoming Trump administration in a bind. Either attempt to mend fences with Moscow or allow things to deteriorate further before the inauguration. Unlike Flynn who could face prosecution for failing to disclose his paid consulting fees with Moscow and Istanbul, Kushner’s contacts were in the context of preparing the playing field before Trump’s inauguration. “The FBI tries to be thorough in the their investigation,” said defense lawyer Edward MacMahon, saying the FBI looks at anyone caught up in incidental data collection. Kushner didn’t know that the campaign was under FBI surveillance.
Kushner wanted a back channel communication to begin restoring the damage caused by Obama’s sanctions and recent expulsions of Russian diplomats. Trump officials tried to keep communication lines open with Moscow after Obama all-but-extinguished them. Kushner told his attorney Jamie Gorelick that Kushner “has no recollection of the calls described,” nor does he have any problems talking to the FBI or Congressional committees. Former Moscow-based FBI agent Jim Tracy said if Kushner’s a person of interest, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s a target of an investigation. “Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings,” Gorelick said in a statement. “He will do the same if he is contacted in connection with any other inquiry,” dismissing the Washington narrative that he has something to hide.
When Kushner applied for security clearance in 2016, he didn’t list several contacts with Kislyak and Russian banker Sergey Gorkov. Some Democrats have called for Kushner to be stripped of his security clearance for failing disclose all Russian contacts. Kushner’s attorney said Kushner didn’t recall all of the thousands of contacts with foreign officials during the transition period. Recent press reports suggest that Kushner had three more contacts with Kislyak between April and November 2016. Kushner “has no recollection of the calls as described,” Gorelick clarified. Because of the Russian hysteria sweeping Washington, the press makes Kushner’s Russian contacts as guilt-by-association, suggesting anyone contacting Russia was guilty of collusion, something not backed by the evidence. Kushner’s Russian contacts feed the Democrats and press narrative that something nefarious went on.
Kushner’s willingness to talk with the FBI and Congressional investigators contrasts sharply with Flynn who’s wants an immunity deal. Flynn got into hot water for not telling Vice President Mike Pence that he talked with Kislyak about something other that scheduling issues with Russian President Vladimir Putin. When FBI incidental data collection proved he talked about Russian sanctions and Obama expelling 35 Russian diplomats, Trump asked for Flynn’s resignation Feb. 13. Democrats and the media hope that they’ve got Kushner in a trap, when in fact FBI Special Counsel Robert Mueller may find nothing. When former FBI Director James Comey decided July 5 to end the Hillary email investigation, Mueller could do the same thing with the Trump Russian probe. Setting up a “back channel” with Russian doesn’t mean the Trump campaign did anything wrong.
Salivating at snaring Kushner in nefarious contacts with Russia, Democrats and the media have jumped the gun. Once Mueller interviews Kushner, it could be the beginning of the end to the Russian Trump investigation. “That doesn’t mean he [Kushner] is the subject or the FBI suspects him of any wrongdoing; it also doesn’t mean the FBI doesn’t suspect him of any wrongdoing,” said Todd Hinnen, former acting head of the Justice Department’s national security division. Interviewing Kushner may give Mueller the information he needs to wrap up Trump’s investigation. Trump’s National Security Director H.R. McMaster said today he’s “not concerned” about Kushner’s attempt to set up a back channel communication with Moscow. “Given his position and his contracts, interviewing him would be an important step in any thorough investigation,” said Hinnen, dismissing the media hubbub.
