Senate Intelligence Committee Investigates Donald Trump's Son-in-Law in Russia Case

A U.S. congressional official announced on Monday, March 27, that the Senate Intelligence Committee intends to interview Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law, as part of its investigation into the relationships of Trump's associates with Russian officials. According to Reuters, the official, who requested anonymity, confirmed a report by The New York Times that the investigative committee has decided to question Kushner. This official added that the committee would make an official statement on the matter by the end of Monday. Jared Kushner, who was an advisor to Trump during the election campaign and has been an advisor to the president since entering the White House, is the closest person to Trump being questioned in Congress regarding Russia's role in the 2016 presidential election. According to The New York Times, citing unnamed government and congressional officials, the Senate Intelligence Committee wants to ask Kushner about two meetings he had with the Russian ambassador in December 2016 at Trump Tower in New York City and one meeting with the head of the Russian Development Bank. The Russian Development Bank (Vnesheconombank) is one of the Russian banks that was sanctioned in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea, by the Obama administration. Members of the president-elect's team and close advisors to Donald Trump have repeatedly met with Russian officials and other foreign countries. Hope Hicks, a spokesperson for Donald Trump, told The New York Times that Jared Kushner has met with officials from dozens of foreign countries. Reuters reminds that U.S. security agencies concluded months ago, at the end of their investigations, that the Russian government conducted a series of organized cyber attacks against the Democratic Party's computer network during the presidential election and used the stolen information to benefit Donald Trump. The Russian government has denied these allegations. At least four committees in the U.S. Congress are investigating the potential influence of Russia on the election results and the connections and cooperation between Donald Trump's associates and the Russian government. FBI Director James Comey confirmed last week that the Federal Bureau of Investigation is looking into this matter. A spokesperson for Donald Trump told The New York Times that Jared Kushner is prepared to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee, adding, 'He does not intend to hide anything.' During Kushner's meeting with the Russian ambassador in Moscow in early December 2016, Michael Flynn, Trump's national security advisor, was also present. Flynn, who held this position for a short time, was dismissed for providing false information about his meetings and relationships with the Russian ambassador. The New York Times further reports that the Russian ambassador had asked Kushner to meet again, but Kushner sent one of his assistants to that meeting. The ambassador had also requested Kushner to meet with the head of the Russian Development Bank, which had been sanctioned by the European Union following Russia's intervention in Ukraine.