In a recent hearing of the House Oversight Committee, the panel’s top Democrat — Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.) — suggested the possibility of involvement by Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner in “covering up” the murder while Donald Trump was president of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, whose death is credited by extensive reports to Saudi leadership.
Kushner spent extensive time on Trump’s presidential team, where he was involved in formulating the federal government’s foreign policy approach. And broadly, even then-President Trump himself was dismissive at the time amid reports tying Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Khashoggi’s death. After Kushner’s time in Trump’s presidential employ, an investment business he now leads received billions of dollars in inflows from a Saudi fund controlled by that same ruling figure.
Raskin chimed in amid comments from another Democrat during GOP-led proceedings on ostensible suggestions of corruption ensnaring the Bidens. That other Democrat, Texas’ Greg Casar, was drawing attention to questions regarding Kushner’s conduct. Among the suggested possibilities is that the money for Kushner’s post-White House venture was part of some quid pro quo or bribery.
“We can just add another question. What was the role that Jared Kushner played in covering up the assassination and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, ordered by the royal crown prince?” Raskin remarked.
Kushner complained when facing the subject of Khashoggi’s death in a recent interview. He is not participating in his father-in-law’s current political team as Trump makes another run for the White House.
Raskin also moved during Congressional proceedings on Wednesday for a subpoena that would compel testimony from Kushner, though Republicans effectively squashed it. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) moved to table — meaning procedurally set aside — Raskin’s motion, and the committee’s GOP majority approved the prospect. The panel’s GOP chairman, Rep. James Comer (Ky.), recently posited getting testimony from President Joe Biden… to which fellow panel member Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) publicly pushed the idea of having Trump for questioning instead.
