Comer rejects Democrats’ demand for hearing on ‘influence peddling’ by Jared Kushner
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., is rejecting the latest attempt by Democrats to shift scrutiny onto former President Trump’s inner circle.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the committee, led a letter to Comer on Tuesday calling for a hearing into allegations of 'apparent influence peddling and quid pro quo deals' by Trump’s son-in-law and former White House adviser, Jared Kushner.
Comer told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that Kushner’s business was 'legitimate' and dismissed the request as a bid to 'shield President Biden from oversight.'
It comes as the House Oversight Committee’s GOP majority conducts an impeachment inquiry into President Biden over accusations he used his former position as vice president to enrich himself and his family, particularly through foreign business deals. Both the president and the White House have denied wrongdoing.
'Unlike the Bidens, Jared Kushner has a legitimate business and has a career as a business executive that predates Donald Trump’s political career,' Comer told Fox News Digital.
'Democrats’ latest letter is part of their playbook to shield President Biden from oversight. The House Oversight Committee will continue to investigate President Biden’s abuse of public office and hold the Bidens accountable for their corruption.'
Raskin and Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., wrote to Comer, 'This Committee cannot claim to be ‘investigating foreign nationals’ attempts to target and coerce high-ranking U.S. officials’ family members by providing money or other benefits in exchange for certain actions’ while continuing to ignore these matters. We therefore urge you to work with us to finally investigate Mr. Kushner’s receipt of billions of dollars from foreign governments in deals that appear to be quid pro quos for actions he undertook as senior White House adviser in Donald Trump’s Administration.'
They also accused Comer of having 'allowed Mr. Kushner to repeatedly ignore and defy these requests,' citing Democrats’ repeated urging to subpoena Kushner and his firm.
At the heart of Raskin and Garcia’s latest letter is a New York Times report from earlier this month that claims Kushner is in the final stages of major real estate deals in Albania and Serbia. The report also noted that those deals are coming to fruition while Trump seeks a second term in office.
Kushner told the outlet he was 'excited' and 'working hard' to close the deals.
Democrats’ attention to Kushner’s foreign business ties comes as impeachment investigators focus on the president’s son Hunter Biden and his foreign business dealings in Ukraine and China.