California Rep. Robert Garcia, ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, mailed a request to Jared Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners asking for detailed information about its Middle‑East dealings. Garcia claims the inquiry is needed to determine whether the firm’s gains have come at the expense of American safety.
Administration’s response
The Trump administration quickly defended Kushner, noting his volunteer work as a peace envoy and emphasizing that he has no role in deciding the investments of Phoenix Financial, the Israeli firm in which Affinity Partners is a major investor. A spokesperson for President Trump said the investigation is a partisan effort to distract from the administration’s diplomatic achievements in the region.
Garcia’s own holdings
Garcia’s recent financial disclosures show that his California public‑employee pension plans hold stock in Phoenix Financial and Israel’s largest arms maker, Elbit Systems. His spokesperson argued that, like millions of other public‑employee retirees, Garcia has no control over the pension fund’s investments.
Context of the probe
The request follows a CNN investigation that found Affinity Partners is the largest shareholder in an Israeli company backing firms that supply equipment for Israel’s military campaigns. The report also highlighted that several of those companies saw their stock values rise after the Gaza conflict.
Kushner’s attorney dismissed Garcia’s letter as “a masterclass in irony,” pointing out that the congressman also holds interests in the same stocks. The attorney added that Kushner “makes millions with no accountability all while he travels the Middle East on behalf of his father‑in‑law,” a claim the administration refutes, saying Kushner’s diplomatic work is separate from any investment decisions.
Broader political backdrop
Democrats on the Oversight Committee have signaled they will pursue further inquiries into the Trump family’s overseas business activities if they regain a House majority in the upcoming midterms. The committee’s minority members can request information, but only the chair can issue subpoenas.
After the CNN story, Kushner posted on X that the report was “deeply misleading” and pledged to continue the work President Trump asked him to do: helping end wars and promote peace.
Garcia’s letter also referenced earlier requests for information about Affinity Partners’ fundraising, including a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2021, underscoring the ongoing partisan debate over foreign‑linked investments by members of the Trump administration.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
