Jared Kushner Denies Allegations of Hacked Phone and Foreign Influence
Jared Kushner is firmly rejecting allegations from an upcoming book that claims he was involved in a scheme involving a hacked iPhone, international spies, and substantial transfers of money from foreign governments. The book, authored by journalist Matthew Cole, alleges that Kushner, who served as a senior adviser to President Trump, had access to over $2 billion in what it describes as "slush money funds" from Middle Eastern leaders aimed at influencing U.S. foreign policy.
The book's excerpt, released recently, details accusations related to Kushner's role in shaping U.S. policy in the Middle East during his tenure in the Trump administration. Kushner was instrumental in negotiating significant foreign policy agreements involving Israel and various Gulf states, as well as interactions with China and Russia.
In response to the allegations, Kushner and his legal representatives issued strong statements categorically denying the claims. Kushner described the allegations as "completely insane and never happened," while his attorney labeled them as "false and defamatory," indicating intentions to pursue legal action against those responsible for the claims, although no specific individuals were named.
The book, titled "Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed's Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East," suggests that Kushner had access to undisclosed foreign bank accounts that were purportedly used to fund influence operations within the U.S. government. An excerpt published in "Vanity Fair"—which has not been independently verified—claims that Dutch intelligence agents discovered that Russian operatives had hacked Kushner's iPhone in 2017, gaining access to his communications.
Allegations of Covert Operations Unveiled
According to the report, the intelligence service was able to monitor Kushner's phone activity, capturing images of his screen as he used it. The book alleges that the funds in question were often disguised as belonging to official government entities or charities, but were actually intended for covert diplomatic efforts, including attempts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Final Brief
The allegations further assert that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contributed approximately $1 billion to one of these accounts for Kushner's personal benefit, as stated by an unnamed source familiar with the matter. Kushner has vehemently denied these claims, emphasizing that no verifiable evidence has been presented to support such extraordinary accusations.
He pointed out the lack of documentation, such as bank statements or transaction records, to substantiate the claims made in the book. CBS News reached out to the White House for comment, which referred to a statement from Steven Cheung, assistant to the president and director of communications. Cheung dismissed the Vanity Fair article as fictional, asserting that it was based on unsubstantiated claims from unnamed sources.
