AFX DEEP DIVE: The Jared Kushner Hearings
More than 3000 of you have already voted in today’s poll, so tonight we want to go a little deeper on the Jared Kushner story. AFX’s Mini summarizes the news and brings you 4 excellent reads from both the right and the left! And Max has selected some of the best AFX comments from earlier today.
Read on, then VOTE!
In the past month, murmurs of Trump-Russia collusion have grown into clamor. Earlier this month, it was revealed that Jared Kushner attended the now infamous meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a Russian lawyer. On Monday, he became the first of Trump’s close advisors to discuss Russian collusion on Capitol Hill.
Kushner indicated in written statements, during his testimony, and in comments after the hearing that he “did not collude with Russia.”
National Review columnist Charles Krauthammer praised the statement. He suggested that while Kushner’s defense of inexperience did not inspire confidence in his abilities, it did ring true. He also took note of Kushner’s very careful wording.
→NATIONAL REVIEW story: http://bit.ly/2gYn0RW
Senator Ron Wyden raised similar concerns about Kushner’s lawyerly language, urging him to testify under oath in public. During the private session today, Kushner was not under oath, though federal law nonetheless required he tell the truth.
→BUSTLE story: http://bit.ly/2vEkRy2
While several news organizations expressed skepticism about Kushner’s claims, Breitbart, focused on other news organizations’ reporting. Journalist Penny Starr documented Kushner’s complaints about the media. He stated that Reuters had reported on unsubstantiated claims of calls between him and the Russian ambassador. Starr also pushed back against accusations that Kushner had been hiding information only about Russia, explaining that many foreign contacts had been left off his records because of a paperwork error.
→ BREITBART story: http://bit.ly/2ty2c5f
Kushner’s entire statement ties into the larger question of what is meant by transparency in the Trump era. Slate reporter Katy Waldman suggests that transparency is only a last resort for the Trump team, forcing readers to question whether Kushner has now revealed all.
→SLATE Story: http://slate.me/2vUta81
AFX SELECTED COMMENTS
Judith from Scottsdale, Arizona: “It took one and a half years to investigate Watergate. It will take at least that long for Trumpgate. I am not a Dem, but I know when someone is not fit to lead this already great country. Why do you think he is terrified to have them look into his financial dealings?”
Monica from DeLand, Florida: “All of the Intel agencies have already testified that the Trump Team did not collude with the Russians and that includes Comey who testified to the same thing, that the election was valid and no votes were changed, and collusion is not a crime. So stop the crap”
Richard from Delaware: “There hasn’t been a single piece of evidence to say otherwise!… This is a political witch hunt and it needs to end NOW!”
William from Paris, Texas: “Collusion is not illegal. Conspiracy to commit a crime is illegal. We need to ask the committee to make all documents, statements, and questions asked for in public. Why keep the hearings closed to further keep the issue of running the country out of the public’s attention? This is just another sideshow to keep pointing fingers instead of making the country better for we the people.”
Dianne from Toms River, New Jersey: “Just by attending the meeting he collided with the Russians. He said he did not read the email from Jr and I do not believe it. He omitted information from his application for a security clearance and it should be pulled immediately!”
