Jared Kushner 'failed to disclose emails from close Putin ally'
Proposal said to involve meeting at NRA event
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to arrange a meeting with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign on the sidelines of a National Rifle Association meeting — outreach that Jared Kushner subsequently failed to disclose, sources have told NBC.
Earlier this week, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee contacted Mr Kushner’s attorney asking for more documents from Mr Kushner, who is the President’s son-in-law and a top aide.
Specifically, the panel — which is conducting one of multiple investigations into potential collaboration between the Russian government and Mr Trump’s presidential campaign — said Mr Kushner’s attorney had not turned over documents concerning a “Russian backdoor overture and dinner invite”.
According to NBC, that overture involved a Russian banker named Aleksander Torshin who is described as being close to Mr Putin. Citing multiple sources familiar with the matter, NBC reported that Mr Torshin wanted Mr Trump to attend an NRA event in Louisville, Kentucky, where Mr Torshin hoped to meet with campaign officials.
Mr Kushner rejected the request and advised campaign officials to do the same, NBC reported, but Mr Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, ended up sitting next to Mr Torshin during a private dinner.
The President has denied any collusion between his campaign and Russia, lambasting investigations as a partisan witch hunt.
But evidence that Russian-linked actors sought to contact the campaign has steadily surfaced in recent months. It emerged earlier that Mr Kushner and Mr Trump Jr accepted a meeting with a Russian lawyer who was described as having damaging information about Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation has produced a guilty plea from former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos, who repeatedly sought to connect campaign officials to the Russian government. Mr Papadopoulos admitted to lying to the FBI about his meetings with Russian-linked individuals.
While Mr Trump and his administration have described Mr Papadopoulos as a bit player with no influence, the campaign’s Instagram account had posted a photo of Mr Papadopoulos at a meeting with Mr Trump and then-Senator Jeff Sessions on a date that matches a meeting described in the court document laying out the case against Mr Papadopoulos. Now the Attorney General Mr Sessions has said he did not remember the meeting.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments