WASHINGTON (AP) – A well-known watchdog organization in Washington is taking legal action against Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, attempting to stop him from working as one of the administration’s top envoys without revealing his personal finances and possible conflicts of interest.
The group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, claims that Kushner’s position as a key negotiator in the U. S.’s major foreign policy issues means he should be treated as an official government employee and follow all necessary regulations.
Kushner and Steve Witkoff, the U. S. special envoy, are viewed as some of the president’s closest and most powerful diplomats. Neither has been confirmed by the Senate, with Witkoff being a formal employee who does not receive a salary funded by taxpayers.
The White House has consistently stated that Kushner is still a private citizen and is fulfilling his diplomatic responsibilities on a volunteer basis.
However, in the lawsuit, CREW argues that Kushner is representing the United States while also managing an investment firm that oversees billions in foreign-owned assets.
“While his personal business interests abroad raise serious conflict-of-interest concerns, he has not been properly vetted for his government role,” read the legal complaint filed Wednesday. ”(A)nd he has evaded transparency obligations that aim to ensure that he exercises government authority for the good of the American people and not himself.”
The Constitution’s appointments clause along with a post-Watergate ethics law are designed to ensure federal officials undergo proper vetting and disclose their assets adequately.
Kushner’s unofficial role has placed him at the center of significant foreign policy challenges facing the second Trump administration, including conflicts involving Israel and Hamas, Ukraine and Russia, as well as issues between the U. S. and Iran. He was instrumental in negotiating last year’s peace plan between Israel and Hamas and frequently travels abroad to meet world leaders on behalf of his father-in-law.
Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, were official government employees during Trump’s first term and submitted necessary financial disclosures even though neither took a salary. While Kushner handled some domestic policies back then, he has primarily focused on foreign affairs this time around.
Chad Mizelle, an attorney for Kushner, stated on X that the lawsuit is “without merit” claiming that CREW lacks standing to challenge him.
CREW maintains it is directly affected because Kushner is withholding records typically available from government officials.
“Both outside ethics counsel and government ethics attorneys have reviewed Jared Kushner’s volunteer government service and confirmed that his arrangements comply with applicable ethics requirements,” said Mizelle who previously served as chief of staff at the Justice Department before leaving governmental service last year.
Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly criticized CREW calling it an “unserious, Trump-deranged organization that has been attacking President Trump, his family, and his administration since the first term.”
Praising Kushner as a “proven dealmaker,” Kelly added that his “personal business activities have nothing to do with his diplomatic engagements which he conducts on a volunteer basis at the President’s request while covering his own expenses.”
Kushner himself has dismissed questions about potential conflicts of interest previously stating in a CBS News interview last year that his business ties are actually beneficial.
“What people call conflicts of interests Steve and I call experience and trusted relationships that we have throughout the world,” Kushner remarked during the interview referring to Witkoff. “If Steve and I didn’t have these deep relationships; the deal we were able to get done freeing these hostages would not have happened.”
Kushner referred to Israeli hostages released by Hamas under an October 2025 ceasefire agreement.
The lawsuit also names Witkoff along with White House chief of staff Susie Wiles; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in their official capacities.
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