President Trump ordered former chief of staff John Kelly to grant his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner a top-secret security clearance last year, according to a new report.
Sources told the New York Times that Trump overruled intelligence and administration officials last May when they raised concerns about providing Kushner with a top-secret security clearance — an upgrade from the temporary and interim status he held earlier.
Trump’s decision prompted both Kelly and White House counsel Don McGahn to write internal memos, the former documenting the alleged order and the latter highlighting his recommendation against the move and outlining the concerns regarding Kushner’s clearance status raised by the CIA.
The report directly contradicts statements from not only Trump himself, but also Kushner’s wife — the president’s daughter — Ivanka Trump, and his lawyer, Abbe D. Lowell. All three have previously insisted that Kushner’s security clearance was obtained through regular procedures and that the president did not have undue influence on the process.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders declined to address the report Thursday. “We don’t comment on security clearances,” she said.
The report comes the same week as Kushner met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the first time since the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year. The crown prince is still facing scrutiny over his alleged involvement in the death and dismemberment of the Washington Post columnist but has denied any involvement in the matter.
U.S. officials had raised questions about Kushner’s clearance because of his real estate business ties to foreign governments and investors — all of which were highlighted by an FBI background check, NBC reported. Trump has also faced scrutiny for granting two family members official positions in his administration.
Typically, a clearance is granted by the White House personnel security office after an FBI background check, with the White House counsel making the decision in any disputes. While Trump has legal authority to grant a security clearance, it is highly unusual.
In January, Trump said he “was never involved with the security” clearances for Kushner, according to the Times. “I know that there was issues back and forth about security for numerous people, actually. But I don’t want to get involved in that stuff,” Trump said.
