When Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law and Senior Adviser, sought the Top-Secret Security Clearance that would give him access to some of the Nation’s most closely guarded Secrets, he was required to Disclose all Encounters with Foreign Government officials over the last seven years.
But Kushner did not mention dozens of contacts with Foreign Leaders or Officials in recent months. They include a December meeting with the Russian Ambassador, Sergey I. Kislyak, and one with the Head of a Russian State-owned Bank, Vnesheconombank, arranged at Kislyak’s behest.
The Omissions, which Kushner’s Lawyer called an error, are particularly sensitive given the Congressional and F.B.I. Investigations into contacts between Russian officials and Trump Associates. The Senate Intelligence Committee informed the White House weeks ago that, as part of its inquiry, it planned to question Kushner about the meetings he arranged with Kislyak, including the one with Sergey N. Gorkov, a Graduate of Russia’s Spy school who now Heads Vnesheconombank.
Kushner’s Omissions were described by people with direct knowledge of them who asked for anonymity because the Questionnaire is not a Public document.
While officials can lose access to intelligence, or worse, for failing to Disclose Foreign contacts, the forms are often amended to address lapses. Jamie Gorelick, Kushner’s Lawyer, said that the Questionnaire was submitted prematurely on Jan. 18th, and that the next day, Kushner’s office told the FBI that he would provide supplemental information.
Kushner’s Aides said he was compiling that material and would share it when the FBI interviewed him. For now, they said, he has an Interim Security Clearance.
In a statement, Gorelick said that after learning of the error, Kushner told the FBI: “During the presidential campaign and transition period, I served as a point-of-contact for foreign officials trying to reach the president-elect. I had numerous contacts with foreign officials in this capacity. … I would be happy to provide additional information about these contacts.” No names were disclosed in that correspondence.
Applicants for Major National Security positions must submit a lengthy FBI Questionnaire as part of a background check. They are asked to list the dates and details of all contacts with Representatives of Foreign Governments.
The Form warns that “withholding, misrepresenting, or falsifying information” could result in Loss of Access to Classified Information, Denial of Eligibility for a Sensitive job, and even Prosecution; knowingly Falsifying or Concealing material facts is a Federal Felony that may result in Fines or up to Five years Imprisonment.
Clearance holders are often allowed to amend Disclosure forms and avoid punishment if omissions are deemed oversights rather than deliberate falsifications, and prosecutions are rare.
Vnesheconombank is a target of American Sanctions imposed in response to Moscow’s Annexation of Crimea and aggression in Ukraine. It is controlled by members of President Vladimir V. Putin’s Government, including Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev, and has been used to bail out Oligarchs favored by Putin and to fund pet projects like the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Kushner has said he did not discuss Sanctions with Gorkov, the Russian Banker.
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