Trump Son-in-Law Prepping for White House Position

Jared Kushner doing what he needs to do to clear hurdles, lawyer says
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 8, 2017 2:48 PM CST
Here's the Latest Sign Kushner Expects a White House Position
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Jared Kushner, right, husband of his daughter Ivanka Trump, center, during a campaign stop at Concord High School, Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, in Concord, NH.   (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

In what the AP calls "the clearest sign yet he is planning to take a position" in father-in-law Donald Trump's administration, Jared Kushner is taking steps to move away from his New York real estate business. Kushner's lawyer says the husband of Ivanka Trump has looked into stepping down as CEO of the Kushner Companies and has also spoken to federal officials about resolving any other potential conflicts of interest. "Mr. Kushner is committed to complying with federal ethics laws and we have been consulting with the Office of Government Ethics regarding the steps he would take," the lawyer says. "Although plans are not finalized, Mr. Kushner would resign from his position at Kushner Companies and divest substantial assets in accordance with federal guidelines."

As the AP notes, there are other hurdles Kushner would need to overcome. A federal anti-nepotism law, for example, prohibits officials from appointing relative to government positions, but Kushner has been working with lawyers about arguing such a law doesn't apply in this case. Some of Trump's advisers argue that it only applies to Cabinet positions, not positions within the White House. If that's found to be true, it would also be good news for Ivanka, who has been expected to get a West Wing role of her own. The New York Times, which first reported Kushner's latest moves, notes that the Federal Ethics Office could be overwhelmed with Trump's Cabinet and White House appointees, many of whom will need to be looked at for potential conflicts of interest thanks to their business ties. In the meantime, Jared and Ivanka have found a $5.5 million DC abode to live in once Trump takes office, and it's just blocks away from where the Obamas will be living for two years post-presidency, per the Washington Post. (More Jared Kushner stories.)

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