Kushner gets his security clearance restored
WASHINGTON – Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, had his security clearance restored after almost three months in limbo.
Kushner’s lawyer said Wednesday that Kushner completed the background check process that began last year. It was held up in part because he neglected to fully account for his contacts with foreign nationals.
“His application was properly submitted, reviewed by career officials and went through the normal process,” attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement. “Having completed these processes, Mr. Kushner is looking forward to continuing the work the president has asked him to do.”
Kushner’s permission to view top secret information was revoked in February after White House Chief of Staff John Kelly declared a moratorium on temporary security clearances.
Kushner’s permanent security clearance was held up for almost a year — though he continued to have access to almost every classified and unclassified document coming in and out of the Oval Office.
Kushner has been a key figure in the special counsel investigation into suspected Russian interference in the
2016 presidential election. Kushner attended a meeting in June
2016 with a Russian at Trump Tower during the campaign in an attempt to get disparaging information on Hillary Clinton, and he attempted to set up a “back channel” to the Kremlin during the presidential transition.