A trio of Democratic lawmakers pressed the White House on Wednesday over reports that President Trump’s senior adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has maintained some business ties since entering the administration in January.
Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Tom Carper, D-Del., joined Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, in writing a letter to the Office of White House Counsel that questioned whether Kushner had plans to recuse himself from any policy issues that might intersect with the financial interests still under his control.
“Federal conflict of interest laws prohibit a federal official, such as Mr. Kushner, from profiting off of his government work,” the Democratic lawmakers wrote.
Kushner did not accept a government salary when he took a position as senior adviser to Trump after rising to levels of prominence within the Trump campaign and transition teams.
The husband of Trump’s eldest daughter reportedly resigned from his position as CEO of his own real estate firm, Kushner Companies, stepped down from his seats on various boards and divested many of his assets.
But Warren, Carper and Cummings cited a Baltimore Sun report from late February in their argument that Kushner’s business ties may still affect his ability to participate in policy discussions. According to that report, Kushner has offered to recuse himself from any discussions related to housing vouchers because three Kushner Company-owned apartment buildings in Maryland lease units to families or individuals who pay their rent with vouchers issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The Democratic lawmakers, all of whom are frequently critical of Trump, asked the White House counsel to provide information about the policy areas Kushner will avoid given his own remaining business ties and those of his wife, Ivanka Trump.
