CREW sues to challenge Jared Kushner's unconfirmed role as US envoy
The watchdog group CREW has sued in federal court in Washington, arguing Jared Kushner exercises government authority as an envoy without Senate confirmation or financial disclosures. The White House and Kushner had not responded in the coverage so far.
1 / 3
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a government watchdog, has filed a federal lawsuit against Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law. Anadolu AgencyN “A US government watchdog has sued Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Raw StoryL “filed Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by government watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington” Read at Raw Story ↗ Mixed · 2The suit argues Kushner exercises significant government authority as a diplomatic envoy without Senate confirmation or the financial disclosures required of senior officials, and that his continuing role effectively makes him a federal officer who should have been appointed and confirmed under the Constitution. Anadolu AgencyN “The group argued that Kushner’s continuing role effectively makes him a federal officer” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Raw StoryL “without ever being confirmed by the Senate or filing a financial disclosure” Read at Raw Story ↗ Left · 1According to the complaint, as reported by Raw Story, Kushner has acted as one of America's top diplomats in Trump's second term, negotiating with foreign leaders on conflicts involving Israel, Hamas, Ukraine, Russia and Iran, including meetings with Vladimir Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian officials. Raw StoryL “meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Iranian officials” Read at Raw Story ↗
Left · 1Raw Story also reports that Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified to Congress that he speaks with Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff roughly ten times a day, and that Trump has called Kushner an "envoy of peace" he brings in "when we want to get that deal closed." Raw StoryL “Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified to Congress that he speaks with Kushner and fellow envoy Steve Witkoff roughly ten times a day.”“Trump himself has publicly called Kushner an “envoy of peace”” Read at Raw Story ↗ Mixed · 2The complaint also raises conflict-of-interest concerns: Kushner runs Affinity Partners, an investment firm with more than $6 billion in assets, much of it from foreign investors including sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, according to CREW. Anadolu AgencyN “Affinity Partners, an investment firm with more than $6 billion in assets under management, much of it backed by foreign investors” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Raw StoryL “Affinity collects roughly $60 million per year in management fees from these foreign clients.” Read at Raw Story ↗ Left · 1Raw Story reports that, per the filing, Affinity collects roughly $60 million a year in fees from these clients, whose governments are involved in the negotiations Kushner takes part in. Raw StoryL “Affinity collects roughly $60 million per year in management fees from these foreign clients.” Read at Raw Story ↗
Left · 1Raw Story says Kushner has claimed he is a volunteer, not a government official, and so not subject to disclosure rules; CREW argues this fails legally, noting that Witkoff, who also works without salary, has filed the required disclosures. Raw StoryL “Kushner has claimed he is merely a volunteer, not a government official”“his diplomatic partner Witkoff — who also works without a salary — has filed the required disclosures” Read at Raw Story ↗ Centre · 1CREW President Donald K. Sherman said Kushner "is currently acting with the authority of the United States government" without meeting legal requirements to assure the public of competence and fitness and that private interests are not put first. Anadolu AgencyN ““The president’s son-in-law is currently acting with the authority of the United States government” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Mixed · 2CREW asks the court to bar Kushner from exercising government authority unless properly appointed and confirmed, or to require him to file the financial disclosures. Anadolu AgencyN “CREW asked the court to prevent Kushner from exercising government authority unless he is properly appointed and confirmed, and to require him to file financial disclosures.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Raw StoryL “either bar Kushner from continuing to exercise government authority until he is properly confirmed by the Senate, or order him to immediately file all financial disclosures” Read at Raw Story ↗
Centre · 1Anadolu reported that the White House and Kushner had not immediately responded publicly to the lawsuit. Anadolu AgencyN “The White House and Kushner have not immediately publicly responded to the lawsuit.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Leads with the conflict of interest and the scale of Kushner's alleged power, in a critical tone toward Kushner.
- Emphasis
- Meetings with world leaders, Rubio's testimony, Trump's praise, the roughly $60 million in annual fees, and the volunteer defence.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No response from the White House or Kushner is reported.
- Charged language
- “slapped with lawsuit”“shady backroom deals”
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Straight news report centred on CREW's legal argument and Sherman's quote.
- Emphasis
- The constitutional argument, the requested remedy, and that the White House and Kushner had not responded.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits the volunteer defence, Rubio's testimony, the fee figure and Witkoff's disclosures.
- For example
-
“The White House and Kushner have not immediately publicly responded to the lawsuit.” — Anadolu Agency
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- CREW sued Jared Kushner in federal court in Washington.
- The suit says Kushner exercises government authority in diplomacy without Senate confirmation or financial disclosures.
- Kushner runs Affinity Partners, with over $6 billion in assets including Saudi, Qatari and UAE sovereign wealth funds.
- CREW asks the court to bar him from exercising authority unless confirmed, or to require disclosures.
Where accounts differ
-
Date the lawsuit was filed
- Left
- Raw Story says it was filed Tuesday.
- Centre
- Anadolu says it was filed Wednesday.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington organisation
CREW says Kushner acts with US government authority on major foreign policy issues without confirmation or disclosures, and asks the court to bar him or compel disclosures.
“he has not complied with legal requirements to meaningfully assure the public of his competence and fitness” — Anadolu Agency
Jared Kushner person
Per Raw Story, Kushner has said he is a volunteer and not a government official, so disclosure rules do not apply; he had not responded publicly to the suit when Anadolu reported.
“Kushner has claimed he is merely a volunteer, not a government official” — Raw Story
“The White House and Kushner have not immediately publicly responded to the lawsuit.” — Anadolu Agency
North America2 outlets
Raw Story gives detailed, critical coverage of the complaint's allegations.
“all while running a private investment firm with over $6 billion in assets drawn mainly from foreign sovereign wealth funds” — Raw Story
Raw Story, NBC News
Middle East1 outlet
Anadolu reports the suit neutrally and notes the Gulf states' roles in recent Middle East tensions.
“All three countries have played roles in the tensions in the Mideast in recent months” — Anadolu Agency
Anadolu Agency
Left2 articles
-
Jared Kushner slapped with lawsuit amid shady backroom deals and diplomatic ventures
Critical Presents CREW's allegations as established context and stresses Kushner's conflicts of interest.
-
Centre1 article
-
US watchdog sues over Trump's son-in-law Kushner serving as presidential envoy
Neutral Reports the suit, CREW's argument and quote, and the lack of a response in measured terms.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 14 Oct 20:07 First Raw StoryL Jared Kushner slapped with lawsuit amid shady backroom deals and diplomatic ventures
- 14 Oct 21:43 +1h 36m Anadolu AgencyN US watchdog sues over Trump's son-in-law Kushner serving as presidential envoy
- 14 Oct 23:34 +3h 27m NBC NewsLC Watchdog group sues Trump administration over Jared Kushner’s government work
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…