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Jared Kushner Eyed In Russia Probe-REPORT

by Emily Shire
DOD/Getty Images News/Getty Images

On Thursday, The Washington Post reported that Jared Kushner was being investigated in the larger probe over Russia's possible interference in the 2016 election. According to the report, Donald Trump's son-in-law is a focus of the federal probe because of meetings he held in December. The Post noted that its report is based on sources familiar the investigation.

The report stressed that Kushner has "not been accused of any wrongdoing." However, it also emphasized that while former Trump associates like former campaign manager Paul Manafort and former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn were still of interest to federal agents, "Kushner is the only current White House official known to be considered a key person in the probe."

One of Kushner's lawyers, Jamie Gorlick, told The Post, “Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings. He will do the same if he is contacted in connection with any other inquiry."

Justice Department spokesperson Sara Isgur Flores told The Post: “I can’t confirm or deny the existence or non-existence of investigations or subjects of investigations.” The FBI declined to comment, according to the publication.

Kushner held multiple meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December, as well as with Sergey Gorkov, who is the head of a state-owned bank that is currently subject to U.S. sanctions, Vnesheconombank, according to The Post. The report noted that at one of Kushner's December meetings with Kislyak, Fynn was also in attendance. After briefly serving as Trump's national security adviser, Flynn was forced to resign for mischaracterizing to Vice President Mike Pence the nature of his exchanges with Kislyak. Flynn is currently under multiple investigations.

Last month, The New York Times reported that Kushner had failed to disclose meetings with Russians in his application for security clearance. In March, it was reported that Kushner had already agreed to speak with the Senate Intelligence Committee about his meetings with top Russians.

Kushner is considered one of the president's closest advisers, along with his wife, first daughter Ivanka Trump. The two are currently accompanying the president on his first overseas visit as commander in chief. Trump has openly praised his son-in-law's prospects for bringing about peace in the Middle East.

After firing James Comey as head of the FBI while he was in the middle of investigating Russian electoral meddling and the possible ties to the Trump campaign earlier this month, the president and his team faced a new wave of scrutiny and criticism. The latest news about his son-in-law will likely do little to quiet those concerns.