Jared Kushner’s security clearance downgraded
JARED KUSHNER’S security clearance was downgraded on Wednesday in a move that significantly reduced his access to classified information in the White House.
The official portfolio assigned to Mr Kushner, who is Donald Trump’s son-in-law, is expected to be sharply reduced, according to sources speaking to the New York Times on condition of anonymity.
The reports followed months of delays in completing his background check to allow him to access US government material classified as top secret.
He has been working as a senior presidential adviser without a permanent security clearance for a year.
A spokesman for Mr Kushner sought to play down the delay, telling AP: “Those involved in the process again have confirmed that there are dozens (left) of people at Mr Kushner’s level whose process is delayed, that it is not uncommon for these clearance reviews to take this long in a new administration, and that the current backlogs are now being addressed.”
Mr Kushner was widely understood to be preparing a new effort to secure a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, but details of his proposals remain a closely guarded secret.
He held a series of meetings last year with regional leaders including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
But few details of his plan have been revealed and analysts have expressed scepticism over the chances of their success, particularly after Mr Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital generated widespread anger across the Arab world.