Jared Kushner’s access to top secret intelligence downgraded
China, Israel, Mexico and the UAE privately discussed ways they could influence Donald Trump’s soninlaw
WASHINGTON: Senior White House adviser Jared Kushner has had his security clearance downgraded, a move that will deny President Donald Trump’s sonin-law access to the highest level of official secrets he was privy to as a key member of the US administration.
Kushner had been operating with an interim clearance at the “top secret/sensitive compartmented information” level for more than a year. He was entrusted with some of the administration’s most significant assignments, including relations with China and Japan, forging peace between Israel and Palestine, and a host of domestic priorities, including infrastructure and trade.
The rash of responsibilities he was handed led to the nickname “Secretary of Everything”.
However, chief of staff John Kelly — who has been at odds with Kushner — ordered that officials with interim clearance be cut off if they hadn’t received permanent clearance by last Friday, multiple media reports said. Trump could have allowed Kushner to retain his clearance level, but deferred to Kelly. “I have no doubt he’ll make the right decision,” he had said.
The move sparked speculation that Kushner’s days in the White House might be numbered.
As the story about Kushner’s security clearance broke, The Washington Post reported that officials in four countries had privately discussed ways they could manipulate him by taking advantage of his complex business arrangements, financial difficulties and lack of foreign policy experience.
The four nations were China, Israel, Mexico and the UAE, the Post reported, citing current and former US officials familiar with intelligence reports on the matter.
It was unclear if any of those countries had acted on the discussions, but Kushner’s contacts with foreign officials have previously raised concerns within the White House and were among the reasons he had been unable to obtain a permanent clearance.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to answer a question about Kushner on Tuesday.
“We do not comment on individual security clearances … But we have commented on his ability to do his job, which he’s a valued member of the team, and he will continue to do the important work that he’s been doing since he started in the administration,” she said.
Kushner’s lawyer Abbe Lowell said in a statement that the security downgrade will not affect his client’s ability to “continue to do the very important work he has been assigned by the president”.
The White House’s handling of security clearances has come under intense scrutiny in the wake of revelations that former staff secretary Rob Porter — whose job gave him constant access to the most sensitive documents — had worked for more than a year with only interim clearance.