Kushner to face Senate grilling on Russia ‘links’
Washington, March 27: President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and top aide Jared Kushner will appear before a Senate panel investigating Russian interference in the US election, the White House said on Monday.
Mr Kushner, 36, was Mr Trump’s main intermediary with foreign governments during the 2016 election campaign and now plays that role in the White House.
He arranged meetings between Mr Trump and leaders from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.
But it is his contacts with Russian officials that are now coming under the microscope, amid explosive allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.
US intelligence has concluded that Russia launched a broad-ranging campaign designed to help Mr Trump win election.
“Throughout the campaign and transition, Jared Kushner served as the official primary point of contact with foreign governments and officials,” a White House official said.
“Given this role, he has volunteered to speak with Chairman Burr’s committee, but has not yet received confirmation,” the official said, referring to Senator Richard Burr of North Carolina. Mr Burr chairs the Senate intelligence committee. Earlier, FBI director James Comey and Admiral Mike Rogers, the director of the National Security Agency, made clear that their probe of Moscow and US elections could last for months.
Appearing before a congressional panel, Mr Comey challenged Mr Trump’s claim that former President Obama wiretapped his 2016 campaign headquarters in Manhattan.