Quantcast
Jared Kushner, Russia discussed secret communications channel: Report – Metro US

Jared Kushner, Russia discussed secret communications channel: Report

Jared Kushner President Trump

Jared Kushner and Russia discussed a secret and secure communications channel, according to a new report.

President Trump’s son-in-law and Russia’s ambassador to Washington discussed setting up communications between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin. The plan reportedly was to use Russian diplomatic facilities and equipment to avoid monitoring of their pre-inauguration discussions, The Washington Post reported.

Ambassador Sergei Kislyak told his superiors that Kushner, top aide to then-candidate Trump proposed the idea on either Dec. 1 or 2. 2016 at Trump Tower.

The meeting also was attended by Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser.

The DNC has called for Kushner’s security clearance to be pulled.

Kushner is being investigated because of his meetings in December and other possible interactions with the Russian ambassador and a banker from Moscow, The Washington Post reported, citing people familiar with the investigation.

Kushner is the only current White House official known to be considered a key person in the probe, the newspaper reported.

The FBI, several congressional committees and a special counsel appointed by the Justice Department are looking into allegations of meddling by Russia in the 2016 U.S. election and possible ties between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russian officials seeking to influence the election.

The controversy has engulfed Trump’s administration since he fired FBI Director James Comey on May 9. Moscow has repeatedly denied the allegations and Trump denies collusion with Russia.

The interest in Kushner does not mean investigators suspect him of a crime or intend to charge him, the officials told NBC News.

It is not known whether Kushner has received any requests from the FBI for records, NBC News said.

One of Kushner’s attorneys, Jamie Gorelick, said in a statement her client would cooperate with the investigation.

“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,” Gorelick said.

The FBI and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reuters contributed to this report.