Nepotism Laws and Conflicts of Interest Remain Roadblocks, Should Trump Heed Warnings
Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, will be named Senior White House Advisor. The 35-year old (photo, third from right), like his father-in-law, is a billionaire real estate investor and developer. He is married to Ivanka Trump. The couple are believed to both be headed for White House jobs, as soon as Trump’s attorneys can figure out a way around federal nepotism laws.
President-elect Trump is expected to hold a long-delayed press conference Wednesday to explain how he will satisfy the nation’s conflict of interest concerns and a constitutional mandate that Trump will violate on day one should he not make important changes.
“Mr. Kushner is committed to complying with federal ethics laws and we have been consulting with the Office of Government Ethics regarding the steps he would take,” CNBCÂ reports Kushner’s lawyer said in a statement to NBC News.
On Saturday The New York Times published a lengthy examination into Kushner’s business dealings with “Anbang Insurance Group, a Chinese financial behemoth with estimated assets of $285 billion and an ownership structure shrouded in mystery.”
The Times reports that Kushner and Anbang are “nearing agreement on a joint venture in Manhattan: the redevelopment of 666 Fifth Avenue, the fading crown jewel of the Kushner family real-estate empire. Anbang, which has close ties to the Chinese state, has seen its aggressive efforts to buy up hotels in the United States slowed amid concerns raised by Obama administration officials who review foreign investments for national security risk.”
Kushner, ABC News reports, has “reportedly been preparing to resign from his real estate company and divest from some of his financial assets, with his lawyers consulting closely with the Office of Government Ethics.”
There is no indication that action has been finalized, and the Trump team has not provided any proof Kushner’s appointment will not violate any laws.
Some responses via Twitter:
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Image by Disney | ABC Television Group via Flickr and a CC license