Investigators to question adviser

NEW YORK • US Senate investigators plan to question Mr Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son- in-law and a close adviser, as part of their broad inquiry into ties between Trump associates and Russian officials or others linked to the Kremlin, according to administration and congressional officials.

The White House Counsel's Office was informed this month that the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, wanted to question Mr Kushner about meetings he arranged with the Russian ambassador, Mr Sergey Kislyak, according to the government officials.

The meetings included a previously unreported sit- down with the head of Russia's state-owned development bank. Until now, the White House had acknowledged only an early December meeting between Mr Kislyak and Mr Kushner at Trump Tower.

The meeting was also attended by General Michael Flynn, who would briefly serve as the national security adviser. Mr Kislyak requested a second meeting, which Mr Kushner asked a deputy to attend in his stead, officials said.

At Mr Kislyak's request, Mr Kushner later met Mr Sergey Gorkov, the chief of Vnesheconombank, which the US placed on its sanctions list over Russia's annexation of Crimea and meddling in Ukraine.

White House spokesman Hope Hicks said Mr Kushner was willing to talk to Senate investigators about the meetings with Mr Kislyak and the banker, adding: "He isn't trying to hide anything and wants to be transparent."

NYTIMES

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 28, 2017, with the headline Investigators to question adviser. Subscribe