Officials in at least 4 countries (UAE, China, Israel, Mexico) have privately discussed ways they can manipulate Jared Kushner by taking advantage of his complex biz arrangements, financial difficulties and lack of foreign policy experience, WaPo reports. https://t.co/mwt9wsNlS2
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 27, 2018
What I’m hoping is that this is the arc of the story where the Mad Baron’s lower-level minions have deserted or been killed, his enemies have the castle surrounded, and his courtiers start picking each other off, either in retaliation for past betrayals or in hopes of currying favor with the invaders. Watching the Young Prince get thrown off the tower, preferably in front of his old man’s eyes, comes right before the final battle…
Officials in at least four countries have privately discussed ways they can manipulate Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, by taking advantage of his complex business arrangements, financial difficulties and lack of foreign policy experience, according to current and former U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reports on the matter.
Among those nations discussing ways to influence Kushner to their advantage were the United Arab Emirates, China, Israel and Mexico, the current and former officials said…
H.R. McMaster, President Trump’s national security adviser, learned that Kushner had contacts with foreign officials that he did not coordinate through the National Security Council or officially report. The issue of foreign officials talking about their meetings with Kushner and their perception of his vulnerabilities was a subject raised in McMaster’s daily intelligence briefings, according to the current and former officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.
Within the White House, Kushner’s lack of government experience and his business debt were seen from the beginning of his tenure as potential points of leverage that foreign governments could use to influence him, the current and former officials said.
They could also have legal implications. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III has asked people about the protocols Kushner used when he set up conversations with foreign leaders, according to a former U.S. official.
Officials in the White House were concerned that Kushner was “naive and being tricked” in conversations with foreign officials, some of whom said they wanted to deal only with Kushner directly and not more experienced personnel, said one former White House official…
He’s not a ‘traitor’ traitor — he’s just ill-informed and over his head! Sure, that’ll work.
Huh. Having top presidential advisor in a desperate financial straights and desperate for money turns out to be more than a notional problem.
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) February 27, 2018