Washington — Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter to Jared Kushner’s investment firm, Affinity Partners, demanding details about its Israeli investments. The request comes amid a CNN investigation that identified Affinity as the largest shareholder in an Israeli company linked to firms supplying the Israeli military.
Democratic inquiry
Garcia, a California Democrat, wrote that the committee is “investigating the unprecedented and dangerous ways in which President Trump and his family have profited directly from their access to power.” He asked for “detailed information about your business dealings in the Middle East to understand whether your significant financial gains have come at the cost of Americans’ safety and security.”
Kushner’s response and Trump administration’s stance
Kushner’s attorney dismissed the criticism, noting that Garcia himself holds stock in the same Israeli firms through his California public‑employee pension plans. The attorney called the letter “a masterclass in irony,” urging Garcia to investigate his own holdings first.
In a brief post on X, Kushner labeled the CNN story “deeply misleading” and reiterated his commitment to the mission President Trump assigned him: “Misleading stories will not distract me from the work President Trump asked me to do: help end wars, bring people together and pursue peace. That work is too important.” The administration has emphasized that Kushner’s role as a peace envoy is separate from any private‑sector decisions, and that he has “never participated in or directed Phoenix’s decisions” on where to invest.
Financial context
CNN’s reporting showed that Phoenix Financial, a Tel Aviv‑based firm in which Affinity Partners doubled its stake last year, has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest arms manufacturer, and in at least eight other companies supplying drones, warships and demolition equipment to the Israeli military. All nine companies saw their stock values rise last year, with many attributing the increase to heightened demand during the Gaza conflict.
Affinity Partners does not hold a direct stake in those nine companies, but it stands to benefit when Phoenix profits. Kushner described Phoenix as Affinity’s “best investment” in September 2025.
Political backdrop
The request arrives as Democrats signal they would pursue a full investigation into the Trump family’s overseas business dealings if they regain a House majority in the upcoming midterms. The Oversight Committee’s minority members can only request information; subpoenas require a vote from the committee chair, who is currently a Republican.
Republicans note that similar investigations were launched after the 2022 midterms into Hunter Biden’s foreign business activities, and they argue that the current focus on Kushner distracts from the administration’s broader goals of securing peace and protecting American interests abroad.
What’s next?
If the balance of power shifts after the November elections, Democrats would be able to issue subpoenas and conduct a formal inquiry. Until then, the Trump administration maintains that Kushner’s diplomatic work and his firm’s investments are separate, and it urges the public to focus on the administration’s ongoing efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
