Following the violent attack on Capitol Hill and former President Donald Trump’s disgraceful departure from the White House, one person has been conspicuously absent from the public eyes.
Jared Kushner, the son of a now-pardoned felon and real estate magnate, who previously served as Trump’s chief adviser with far-reaching responsibilities and had virtual carte blanche, has disappeared from the spotlight.
Kushner, along with his wife Ivanka Trump, should never have been allowed to work in the White House. Anti-nepotism rules exist for a reason, namely so that unqualified relatives of the president are not given jobs in the most important office in the world.
He came to the White House from his previous position as an executive in the family business, often playing the role of slumlord. Yet, he was tasked with solving everything from the opioid crisis to modernizing the federal government to criminal justice reform to Middle East peace to the coronavirus pandemic. He solved nothing, but he did reportedly help secure a pardon for his father.
Additionally, a new analysis of their financial filings shows Kushner and Ivanka disclosed up to $640 million in outside income while working in the White House. At the same time, the couple failed to entirely divest from their businesses. Put together, our analysis suggests that as former President Donald Trump’s daughter and son-in-law decamped from the White House in January, they left a trail of ethical breaches in their wake.
It’s not clear why Kushner is “hiding” from the public. Some say he’s done with his father-in-law’s antics. Sources closer to Trump say he’s angry with his son-in-law and blame him for the election loss. Others say that the “Trump” brand has become so toxic, that even Kushner is distancing himself from it.
Given Trump’s election loss and current out-of-power position, Kushner’s absence from the aftermath follows a pattern critics have previously pointed out: being present for the wins and MIA from the losses.
It’s also possible that Kushner wants to stay away from the view of the DOJ, which could start looking into how he was able to make $640 million while working at the White House.
