The ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee called for a review of White House senior adviser Jared Kushner’s security clearance amid reports Kushner did not disclose contacts he had with Russians before President Donald Trump assumed office. I do think there…
The ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee called for a review of White House senior adviser Jared Kushner’s security clearance amid reports Kushner did not disclose contacts he had with Russians before President Donald Trump assumed office.
« I do think there ought to be a review of his security clearance to find out whether he was truthful, whether he was candid, » Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., told host Martha Raddatz on ABC’s « This Week. » « If not, then there’s no way he can maintain that kind of a clearance. »
Reports allege Kushner discussed setting up back-channel communications with Russia’s Kremlin through the Russian Embassy in Washington, D. C., and had failed to disclose those conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak.
« It’s all about the context, » Schiff told Raddatz. « John Brennan testified this week what concerned him wasn’t simply that the Russians were having contact with people associated with the Trump campaign, that the Russians have contacts with Americans quite routinely, but it was the context of an election campaign in which the Russians had been intervening to help Donald Trump, to hurt Hillary Clinton.
« And, of course, if these reports are accurate, right after that campaign, after that intervention, to have the president’s son-in-law, a key player within the Trump organization trying to establish a back channel with the Russians through a Russian diplomatic facility, you have to ask, well, who are they hiding the conversations from? »
. @RepAdamSchiff on Kushner’s attempt to form back-channel with Russians: « You have to ask, who are they hiding the conversations from? » pic.twitter.com/8N4TH6SrDl
National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster said Saturday backchannel communications are had with many countries and are not unusual.
« I was disappointed to see the general say that, » Schiff said.
« . . for people associated with the campaign – after that campaign has ended and where the Russians during that campaign were helping you – to try to establish a back channel and hide it from your own government, that’s a serious allegation. »
. @RepAdamSchiff « disappointed » in McMaster back-channel comments: Trump admin takes people with good credibility and « chews them out. » pic.twitter.com/tEl9eec0Gg
For Schiff, a Democrat frequently opposing the White House on the House Intelligence Committee, McMaster is credible person being « used » by the Trump administration.
« I have a lot of respect for him, sadly I think this is an administration that takes in people with good credibility and chews them out and spits out their credibility at the same time, » Schiff said.
« . .. Anyone within the Trump orbit is at risk of being used. »
