Letter to General John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff - Consider Kushner's Inordinate Vulnerability To Foreign Influence In Reevaluating His Security Clearance

Letter

Date: Feb. 22, 2018
Location: Schaumburg, IL

Dear General Kelly,

In light of reports that Vornado Realty Trust will be selling its 49.5% stake in the Kushner Companies' office tower at 666 Fifth Avenue, I write to ask that you consider this with the utmost seriousness as you consider Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner's ability to retain an interim security clearance.

According to the attached story, the Kushner Company has been in partnership talks with organizations ranging from the Chinese firm Anbang Insurance Group to Qatari royal Hamad bin Jassim to take over the Vornado Realty Trust's stake[1]. According to experts, investors who would invest in a building like 666 Fifth Avenue would be sovereign wealth funds[2] or foreign private investors. While Mr. Kushner has reportedly sold his personal stake in the tower, his familial ties to the business still raise serious concerns; the Senate Intelligence Committee has already inquired whether Mr. Kushner's contacts with foreign nationals during the 2016 Presidential Election had any connection with his real estate business and with the 666 Fifth Avenue property.

In light of this information, I am concerned that the ongoing partnership talks present the potential for undue foreign influence of Mr. Kushner's work in the White House. Again, I urge you to consider this information with the utmost care when evaluating Mr. Kushner's access to highly sensitive materials.

Sincerely,


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