Jared Kushner hid dozens of meetings with Russians from his application for top-secret security clearance

Kushner failed to report dozens of contacts with foreign leaders. His lawyer argues Kushner simply forgot

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Topics: Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, Foreign Affairs, Jared Kushner, Russia, security clearance, trump russian ties, White House staff, ,

Jared Kushner hid dozens of meetings with Russians from his application for top-secret security clearance(Credit: Getty/Dominique A. Pineiro)

Jared Kushner, the White House’s key diplomat and business innovator, did not disclose dozens of encounters with foreign leaders when he applied for top-secret security clearance, The New York Times reported Thursday.

Seeking access to the country’s best-kept secrets, the president’s son-in-law was required to report all contacts he had with foreign government officials in the past seven years. However, Kushner omitted dozens of meetings, including with Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak and Sergey Gorkov, the head of Russia’s state-owned Vnesheconombank. The Senate Intelligence Committee informed the White House two weeks ago that it sought to question Kushner on these meetings.

U.S. officials can lose access to intelligence if they fail to disclose foreign contacts, although the forms are often allowed to be amended to correct any gaps.

Kushner’s lawyer, Jamie Gorelick, is calling the omissions an error. Gorelick said that Kushner simply submitted the forms prematurely and immediately requested the opportunity to provide additional information.

In a statement through his attorney, Kushner said he was willing to meet with the FBI to assuage any concerns.

“During the presidential campaign and transition period, I served as a point-of-contact for foreign officials trying to reach the president-elect. I had numerous contacts with foreign officials in this capacity,” he said. “I would be happy to provide additional information about these contacts.”

The FBI is currently investigating any ties between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia. Kislyak and Gorkov, whom Kushner met with in December, are said to be subjects of the probe. Vnesheconombank is also a major target, as it is controlled by the Kremlin.

Taylor Link is a news writer at Salon. You can find him on Twitter at @taylorlink_

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