Jared Kushner and #Kashoggi thread:
How can Kushner be investigated for alleged corrupt ties to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar?
The Foreign Emoluments clause arguably applies to Kushner as Senior Advisor ot the President as an "office of trust." (But it's complicated)... 1/
How can Kushner be investigated for alleged corrupt ties to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar?
The Foreign Emoluments clause arguably applies to Kushner as Senior Advisor ot the President as an "office of trust." (But it's complicated)... 1/
2/ Foreign Emoluments Clause: "No Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under [the US] shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."
3/ Is an unpaid Senior Advisor an "office of trust"? There is historical debate about the scope of this phrase, and courts have not resolved this question. But in 1982, the OLC (the DOJ's Office of Legal Counsel) suggested broad coverage: justice.gov/file/22956/dow…
4/ Kushner resigned as CEO from the Kushner Companies, but reports are that he only partially divested. He still benefits from the profits of these companies, and thus received emoluments from foreign governments... newsweek.com/jared-kushner-…
5/ Last March, I wrote about Kushner Co. receiving a $184 million loan from Apollo under very shady circumstances. "One of the largest investors in Apollo’s real estate trust is the Qatari government’s investment fund, the Qatar Investment Authority." slate.com/news-and-polit…
6/ And Kushner is getting bailed out of his disastrous $1.8 Billion purchase of 666 5th Ave by Brookfield, a Canadian firm whose largest outside investor is Qatar and whose board has ties to UAE. shugerblog.com/2018/05/21/bro…
7/ It was widely reported that Kushner could not find any takers on such an obsolete overpriced building. But Brookfield gave Kushner implausibly generous terms. A source, an expert on real estate deals, explains: "The $300M junior debt was written off..." bisnow.com/new-york/news/…
8/ Source:"The $1.1B was paid off as was Vornado by Brookfield. It looks like Kushner has recovered cost, so if the option is exercised they should make some money on the deal. For the Kushners, this seems like the best possible outcome one could hope for."
And no other bidders.
And no other bidders.
9/ Now recall a series of stories about Kushner's corrupt links to Saudi. Kushner. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who allegedly is behind #Khashoggi's murder, bragged that he had Kushner "in his pocket." businessinsider.com/saudi-crown-pr…
10/ It is my understanding from @ddd_reporter that Canada has an anti-corruption law that bars transaction that violate that laws where the transaction takes place. Canada's Brookfield is arguably violating the Foreign Emoluments clause in its purchase from Kushners... @CBCNews
11/ Canada regulators could inquire into Brookfield, Kushner, Qatar, Saudi, and UAE connections before approving this sale.
And state attorneys general in the U.S. in NY, NJ, and Delaware could investigate. They all have quo warranto powers. shugerblog.com/2017/02/09/sta…
And state attorneys general in the U.S. in NY, NJ, and Delaware could investigate. They all have quo warranto powers. shugerblog.com/2017/02/09/sta…
12/ If you want #JusticeForKhashoggi, contact your state AG. The Maryland and DC AGs @BrianFrosh @AGKarlRacine have standing to sue Trump Org. for #Emoluments. State AGs have "special solicitude" in our federal system. Kushner emoluments endanger state/federal/foreign balance.
13/ And in particular, @NewYorkStateAG @TishJames @NewJerseyOAG Gubir Grewal and @DE_DOJ Matthew Denn all have established quo warranto powers to investigate the Kushner Companies for corruption, fraud, and emoluments violations. #JusticeForKhashoggi
14/ Finally, this is why winning the House is so important: subpoena power. If you want to know whether Russia, Saudi, UAE, Qatar, etc. have leverage over Trump and Kushner, you want Congress's subpoena power.
