The event has also attracted controversy over its promotion of the EB-5 visa, a program which provides foreign citizens a path to legal U. S. residency.
The Kushner Companies, a firm owned by the family of Jared Kushner, son-in-law and senior adviser to President Trump, has apologized for mentioning his White House role during a recent event in China.
According to CNN Money, the company issued a statement saying, « Ms. [Nicole] Meyer wanted to make clear that her brother had stepped away from the company in January and has nothing to do with this project. »
Nicole Meyer is Jared Kushner’s sister.
A spokesperson also reportedly told the Washington Post that the firm « apologizes if that mention of [Meyer’s] brother was in any way interpreted as an attempt to lure investors. »
According to the New York Times, the controversy occurred in Beijing Saturday when Meyer tried to solicit wealthy Chinese investors for a Kushner Companies real estate project in New Jersey called One Journal Square.
She reportedly told attendees, « In 2008, my brother Jared Kushner joined the family company as CEO, and recently moved to Washington to join the administration. » She has also been quoted as saying that the project « means a lot to me and my entire family. »
As Noah Bookbinder, with the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told NPR, « It’s highly problematic. It appears that Jared Kushner’s family business is using his name and his official position to bring in investment. »
The event has also attracted controversy over its promotion of the EB-5 visa, a program which provides foreign citizens a path for legal U. S. residency if a minimum of $500,000 is invested in an eligible project.
The Washington Post notes that an event brochure is even said to have featured the tagline, « Invest $500,000 and immigrate to the United States. »
