Jared Kushner will join his father-in-law’s administration as senior adviser to the president.
The news comes a day after the New York Times reported that Kushner [TRDataCustom] plans to step down as CEO of his family real estate business to focus on the White House. Kushner’s resignation is likely intended to minimize potential conflicts of interest, given the company’s vast real estate holdings and ties to foreign investors.
“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,” Kushner’s attorney Jamie Gorelick told the Times.
President-elect Donald Trump has scheduled a press conference for Wednesday to announce how he will handle his own potential conflicts of interest. CNN reported that observers expect him to announce his daughter Ivanka (Kushner’s wife) will not run the company, presumably leaving it to his two eldest sons, Eric and Donald Jr.
The Real Deal broke down the risk of conflicts of interest and crony capitalism under a Trump administration in November. [CNN] — Konrad Putzier