Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) is leading a Senate investigation into Jared Kushner’s Saudi-backed private equity firm, Affinity Partners, amid allegations that the former White House adviser profited from his proximity to the administration. Wyden is seeking to subpoena documents related to Kushner’s role in the firm, which has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Kushner created Affinity Partners after leaving his role as senior adviser to former President Donald Trump in 2021. In April 2022, it was revealed that he had secured a $2 billion investment from a fund led by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman just six months after leaving the White House.
Wyden and other Democratic leaders have expressed concern that Kushner may have begun planning his next entrepreneurial venture with foreign governments while still serving as a White House adviser. In a letter to Affinity Partners, Wyden stated that the majority of the firm’s fund capital allegedly comes from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
“It is deeply concerning that several Middle Eastern governments are using funds managed by Affinity as a means to pay tens of millions of dollars in fees every year to former President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner,” Wyden said. “This amounts to significant conflicts of interest.”
Earlier this year, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) urged Congress to hold a hearing on allegations that Kushner was profiting off his famous father-in-law. Republicans on the House Oversight Committee argued that Kushner had a career as a business executive that predates Trump’s political career.
While no laws prohibit Kushner’s business dealings with the Saudis, evidence gathered against him so far is circumstantial. Kushner has denied any allegations of impropriety, stating that he did not plan to return to the White House if Trump won a second term.
