Kushner Should Resign, Lawyers Reportedly Told Trump

'WSJ' says Trump ignored recommendation in June
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 12, 2017 9:03 AM CDT
Trump Ignored Lawyers' Advice to Ditch Kushner: Report
White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn, left, senior adviser Jared Kushner, center, and Ivanka Trump speak on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday.   (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Members of President Trump's legal team recommended Jared Kushner step down as senior White House adviser over his contacts with Russian officials, reports the Wall Street Journal. Citing multiple sources, the Journal reports the recommendation was based on Kushner's close relationship with Trump and his meetings with the Russian ambassador to the US, the head of a Russian-run bank, and a Russian lawyer. The head of Trump's legal team, John Dowd, says others, including himself, objected to Kushner stepping down. "I thought it was absurd," he says. So, apparently, did Trump. Though the White House drew up a statement explaining Kushner's exit should it happen, sources say Trump thought Kushner did nothing wrong.

On a security clearance form, Kushner failed to disclose any contacts with foreign officials, though he has since said he had four meetings with Russians. Federal investigators were examining at least some of those meetings as lawyers discussed Kushner's future. The statement that would've explained the resignation of Trump's son-in-law—who has denied allegations of collusion—pointed the blame at Trump's opponents for misrepresenting an ordinary meeting, two people tell the Journal. CBS News confirmed some lawyers were concerned about Kushner's Russian contacts and recommended he be fired, but couldn't confirm that lawyers discussed Kushner stepping down with Trump in June, as the Journal reports happened. (More Jared Kushner stories.)

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