Democratic lawmakers are urging the Ministry of Justice (DOJ) to appoint a special counsel to investigate Jared KushnerTies with Saudi Arabia.

In a letter to the attorney general Merrick GarlandOregon Sen. Ron Wyden and Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin charged Donald TrumpSon-in-law and former senior White House adviser of acting as an “unregistered foreign agent” by lobbying on behalf of the Saudi kingdom. News week contacted the DOJ and Kushner’s legal team for comment via email.

Kushner, married to Trump’s eldest daughter Ivanka, has long been the subject of criticism from Democratic figures. regarding an investment of 2 billion dollars secured by its private equity fund, Affinity Partners. This financing comes from a Saudi fund headed by the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman was received six months after Kushner left his White House post in January 2021.

Chad Mizelle, legal director of Affinity Partners, told Reuters that the request for a special counsel investigation with just over a week before the 2024 election was a “shameful attempt by Wyden and Raskin to turn a DOJ already weaponized into an entirely political operation with accusations that have no basis or evidence.” Kushner also called the letter a “stupid political stunt,” adding that “there is no conflict of interest “.

In their letter, Wyden, president of the Senate The Finance Committee and Raskin, ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, said Kushner acted as a “shadow diplomat and policy adviser” to Prince Mohammed.

They added that Kushner lobbied on behalf of the prince after the Saudi Public Investment Fund (Saudi PIF) paid $87 million to Affinity Partners since June 2021.

Lawmakers said Kushner may have violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a federal law requiring agents of foreign interests who engage in political activities to register their dealings with the DOJ.

“While on the payroll of the Saudi government, Mr. Kushner simultaneously serves as a political consultant to former President Trump and acts as a shadow diplomat and policy advisor to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and others foreign leaders,” Wyden and Raskin wrote.

“Despite being engaged in clearly political activities, Mr. Kushner has failed to make FARA disclosures to the DOJ regarding the millions of dollars paid to him annually by entities owned and controlled by US governments. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

“The scale of these undisclosed foreign payments to Mr. Kushner, coupled with the national security implications of his apparent ongoing efforts to sell his political influence to the highest foreign bidder, are unprecedented and demand action by the DOJ ” added Wyden and Raskin.

Their letter references an October 4 Reuters report, citing an anonymous source, alleging that Kushner had repeatedly engaged in diplomatic negotiations regarding Israel with Prince Mohammed since leaving the Trump White House in January 2021.

The letter also states that Affinity Partners has already collected $157.5 million in management fees. foreign investors for work expected to be completed in 2024, including $87 million from the Saudi PIF. Affinity Partners would collect an additional $90 million in management fees from foreign investors by August 2026, of which $50 million would come from the Saudi PIF.

“There is good reason to believe that the Saudi government’s decision to use Affinity for investment advice is simply a fig leaf to funnel money directly to Mr. Kushner and his wife,” Ivanka Trump“, adds the letter.

Kushner described the lawmakers’ letter as “falling short of the level of seriousness that both chambers deserve” in a statement to Reuters and The Hill.

Kushner added: “During Trump’s four years in office, every decision he has made has been through the prism of what is in America’s best interests. Once re-elected, he will do the same. “

A former White House Middle East adviser to Trump, Kushner said he would not take a position in a second Trump administration if the Republican return to the White House next year.

Kushner recently said The Wall Street Journal that he still maintains an informal advisory role to his father-in-law, expressing his intention to “fully assist and advise” Trump and his team.

In February, Kushner defended the $2 billion deal with Saudi Arabia shortly after leaving the White House, rejecting the idea that it constituted a conflict of interest.

“If you ask me about the work we did at the White House, for my criticism, I say point to one decision we made that was not in America’s best interest.” , Kushner said at the Axios BFD Summit in Miami, Florida. .