Nets Hype Kushner ‘Under Scrutiny,’ Then Admit He’s Not Accused of Anything

Newsbusters.org ^ | May 26, 2017 | Kyle Drennen

[Kaslin]

On Friday, all three network morning shows began with anchors breathlessly declaring that President Trump’s son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner was “under scrutiny” in the FBI’s Russia investigation. However, after offering the screaming salacious headlines, each broadcast quietly admitted that Kushner was not the target of the investigation nor was he accused of any wrongdoing.

Opening NBC’s Today, co-host Matt Lauer hyped: “Under scrutiny, President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, now part of the FBI’s Russia investigation.” Minutes later, fellow co-host Savannah Guthrie promised viewers there was “fresh turmoil facing the Trump administration.” Correspondent Peter Alexander further sensationalized the story: “Jared Kushner may be the closest adviser to the President, making him one of the most powerful people in this country....That means this investigation now reaches right next to the President.”

Nets Hype Kushner ‘Under Scrutiny,’ Then Admit He’s Not Accused of AnythingNets Hype Kushner ‘Under Scrutiny,’ Then Admit He’s Not Accused of Anything.

Leading off ABC’s Good Morning America, fill-in co-host and World News Tonight anchor David Muir proclaimed: “Also breaking, his son-in-law and top adviser Jared Kushner now caught in the cross-hairs of the Russia investigation.”  

Turning to correspondent David Wright in the 7:30 a.m. ET half hour, Muir announced: “We've learned that under scrutiny now President Trump’s son-in-law, Ivanka Trump’s husband, Jared Kushner, and his contacts with the Russians...” Wright declared: “Jared Kushner is not just another White House staffer. He may well be the President’s closest adviser, the one guy in the inner circle who can’t be fired, so the fact that he’s now swept up in the Russia investigation puts this all uncomfortably close to the President.”

But again, just like Alexander, he was forced to admit just seconds later: “FBI sources tell ABC News Kushner is not accused of any wrongdoing, nor is he a target of their investigation.”

Earlier on the show, Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl emphasized that point: “He is a person of interest to that FBI investigation. There is no indication whatsoever that he is a target of the investigation....It’s going to be a major distraction but its important to note, David, there is no indication that Jared Kushner is a target of this investigation.”

Finally, at the beginning of CBS This Morning, co-host Norah O’Donnell heralded: “President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner is under FBI scrutiny as the Russia investigation reaches into the White House.” In the report that followed, correspondent Jeff Pegues amped up the coverage: “Jared Kushner is now under an FBI microscope....Investigators are scrutinizing his actions and interactions with Russian officials and whether they included something improper.”

The headline on screen blared: “Kushner & The Kremlin?; FBI Scrutinizes Trump Son-in-Law’s Ties to Russia.”

It only took a few minutes for co-host Charlie Rose to turn to down the volume: “What does this mean for Jared Kushner? Because The Washington Post, who first broke this story – CBS has confirmed and others – they say, the Post says he’s not been told – that he is not a target of the investigation or a focus of investigation. What is he?”

Face the Nation moderator John Dickerson replied: “Well, we don’t know because we don’t know the full scope of what the FBI has. But what we do know is that he is very, very close to the President, and so, there is a wonderful source of information.... even if he himself is not under any kind of pressure for anything that he specifically did.”

So simultaneously the Russia investigation “reaches into the White House,” but Kushner isn’t actually accused of anything and not a target of the investigation. Perhaps the network producers should have toned down the language of the misleading headlines they led their shows with.

Here are transcripts of the May 26 coverage on all three morning shows:

Today
7:04 AM ET

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE: That Montana election is a win for the White House, but this morning there’s fresh turmoil facing the Trump administration. As NBC News was first to report, the President’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner is now coming under FBI scrutiny in the Russia investigation. We’re gonna start our coverage of that with NBC National Correspondent Peter Alexander. Peter, good morning.

PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Savannah, good morning. Jared Kushner may be the closest adviser to the President, making him one of the most powerful people in this country. And now multiple U.S. officials tell NBC News that the FBI is taking a closer look at Kushner in it’s Russia inquiry. That means this investigation now reaches right next to the President.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Kushner Under Scrutiny in Russia Probe; FBI Says Son-In-Law Has “Significant Information”]

This morning, the FBI’s Russia probe is expanding into the West Wing. Jared Kushner, senior adviser and son-in-law to President Trump, now under FBI scrutiny. Multiple U.S. officials tell NBC News that investigators believe Kushner has significant information relevant to their Russia inquiry. He’s the only current White House official that’s known to be under scrutiny in the probe.

The FBI is investigating whether Trump campaign associates coordinated with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election. But it’s unclear precisely what about Kushner’s activities has drawn the FBI’s interest. During the Trump transition, Kushner met at least once with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. He also held a separate meeting last year with Russian banker Sergey Gorkov. Gorkov heads a government-owned development bank that’s been under U.S. sanctions since 2014.

Though investigators are taking a closer look at Kushner, it does not mean they suspect him of a crime or intend to charge him. In a statement Kushner’s attorney tells NBC News, “Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings. He will do the same if he’s contacted in connection with any other inquiry.”

DONALD TRUMP: Jared’s a very successful man from New York.

ALEXANDER: Kushner’s position as both adviser and son-in-law putting the Russia probe not only inside the White House, but inside the president’s family circle.

I spoke to several White House officials overnight. Right now the White House is not commenting. Instead, redirecting us to that statement from Jared Kushner’s lawyer. To be clear here, the U.S. officials say that Kushner is not a target of the investigation, he has not been accused of any wrongdoing. For now he’s in a different category than the former Trump campaign aides Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn, who ultimately became national security adviser before being ousted. Both men are formally considered subjects of the investigation. Matt and Savannah?

GUTHRIE: Alright, Peter Alexander, thank you.

GMA 7:30 AM ET

PETER ALEXANDER: Hey, Savannah, good morning. Jared Kushner may be the closest adviser to the President, making him one of the most powerful people in this country. And now multiple U.S. officials tell NBC News that the FBI is taking a closer look at Kushner in it’s Russia inquiry. That means this investigation now reaches right next to the President.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Kushner Under Scrutiny in Russia Probe; FBI Says Son-In-Law Has “Significant Information”]

This morning, the FBI’s Russia probe is expanding into the West Wing. Jared Kushner, senior adviser and son-in-law to President Trump, now under FBI scrutiny. Multiple U.S. officials tell NBC News that investigators believe Kushner has significant information relevant to their Russia inquiry. He’s the only current White House official that’s known to be under scrutiny in the probe.

The FBI is investigating whether Trump campaign associates coordinated with Russia to interfere in the 2016 election. But it’s unclear precisely what about Kushner’s activities has drawn the FBI’s interest. During the Trump transition, Kushner met at least once with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. He also held a separate meeting last year with Russian banker Sergey Gorkov. Gorkov heads a government-owned development bank that’s been under U.S. sanctions since 2014.  

Though investigators are taking a closer look at Kushner, it does not mean they suspect him of a crime or intend to charge him. In a statement Kushner’s attorney tells NBC News, “Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings. He will do the same if he’s contacted in connection with any other inquiry.”

DONALD TRUMP: Jared’s a very successful man from New York.

ALEXANDER: Kushner’s position as both adviser and son-in-law putting the Russia probe not only inside the White House, but inside the president’s family circle.

I spoke to several White House officials overnight. Right now the White House is not commenting. Instead, redirecting us to that statement from Jared Kushner’s lawyer. To be clear here, the U.S. officials say that Kushner is not a target of the investigation, he has not been accused of any wrongdoing. For now he’s in a different category than the former Trump campaign aides Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn, who ultimately became national security adviser before being ousted. Both men are formally considered subjects of the investigation. Matt and Savannah?  

GUTHRIE: Alright, Peter Alexander, thank you.

GMA
7:30 AM ET

DAVID MUIR: In the meantime, we'll move on to that new development in the Russia investigation. We've learned that under scrutiny now President Trump's son-in-law, Ivanka Trump's husband Jared Kushner and his contacts with the Russians and ABC news has learned contacts between Kushner and Russian officials are a focus and ABC's David Wright is following the overnight developments for us.

DAVID WRIGHT: Good morning. Jared Kushner is not just another White House staffer. He may well be the President's closest adviser, the one guy in the inner circle who can't be fired so the fact that he's now swept up in the Russia investigation puts this all uncomfortably close to the president. Jared Kushner's lawyer promised full cooperation. Quote, "Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings. He will do the same if he is contacted in connection with any other inquiry." FBI sources tell ABC News Kushner is not accused of any wrongdoing, nor is he a target of their investigation. But the FBI is curious about a December meeting Kushner had with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak and retired lieutenant general Michael Flynn. Flynn's further contacts with that same Russian ambassador ultimately got him fired.

TRUMP: I asked for his resignation. He respectfully gave it.

WRIGHT: During the transition, Kushner also met with the head of a Russian bank that is subject to U.S. Sanctions.

TRUMP:Jared is a very successful real estate person but I actually think he likes politics more than he likes real estate. He's very good at politics.

WRIGHT: Just a few years ago Jared Kushner was running his dad's company cutting his first big real estate deals in Brooklyn.

KUSHNER: The last place I thought I would be would be spending a lot of time in Brooklyn.

WRIGHT: The 36-year-old real estate investor with no prior government experience now is never far from the boss' side. The Week magazine calls him "America's princeling." He rarely speaks publicly, but he has the king's ear.

TRUMP: He is a great guy.

WRIGHT: He’s the point guy for the generals, the back channel for world leaders. In charge of reinventing government and brokering Middle East peace. Kushner has so much on his plate he's the butt of late night jokes.

COLBERT: Okay, that's a little much for one family member, maybe they should give Middle East peace to Tiffany.

WRIGHT: So the fact that Kushner's name has now come up as part of the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling and possible collusion by Trump associates --

TRUMP: The entire thing has been a witch-hunt.

WRIGHT -- Has got to be a sore subject. Well, at this point we learned the FBI has not even reached out to Kushner nor have they requested any documents yet but sources tell us he's being considered in a different category altogether from Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn and some of the people that are more directly implicated.

MUIR: As you point out no contact with the FBI. We know that Robert Mueller is now special counsel heading up the investigation. Any kind of time frame as to when they could be reaching?

WRIGHT: None whatsoever and this FBI investigation is very different from the congressional ones because there they're negotiating with friendly allies, Republicans in Congress here. Robert Mueller operates on his own timetable.

MUIR: Alright. But reaching into the West Wing.

WRIGHT: Yeah.

CBS This Morning 7:06 AM ET

ALEX WAGNER: CBS News has confirmed President Trump’s son-in-law and senior White House adviser Jared Kushner is under scrutiny in the FBI Russia investigation. The issue is Kushner’s meetings during the presidential transition with Russia’s U.S. ambassador and a Moscow banker with ties to Russian security. Investigators are seeking evidence of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. Jeff Pegues is outside FBI headquarters in Washington. Jeff, good morning.

JEFF PEGUES: Good morning. Jared Kushner is now under an FBI microscope. He was a key figure during the campaign and during the transition to the White House. Investigators are scrutinizing his actions and interactions with Russian officials and whether they included something improper.

[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Kushner & The Kremlin?; FBI Scrutinizes Trump Son-in-Law’s Ties to Russia]

After traveling with the President for most of his overseas trip, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, returned to the U.S. amid new revelations about the scope of the Russia investigation. CBS News has confirmed that part of the investigation includes scrutinizing Kushner’s contacts with Russian officials. Kushner has acknowledged meeting with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in December. Kislyak then arranged for Kushner to meet with the head of Russian-owned VEB Bank, Sergey Gorkov, who was trained by Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB.

Investigators are looking into the nature of the contacts as part of its ongoing FBI counterintelligence investigation. Kushner’s attorney released a statement saying, “Mr. Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings. He will do the same if he is contacted in connection with any other inquiry.” Kushner has offered to meet with the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is also conducting a separate investigation.

DONALD TRUMP: There was no collusion.

PEGUES: Since he took office, the President has dismissed the Russia investigation as a scam and a witch hunt.

TRUMP: The entire thing has been a which hunt and there is no collusion between certainly myself and my campaign.

PEGUES: But the FBI investigation continues to expand to include people close to him and connected to his campaign. Also among those under FBI scrutiny, former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, a campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page, and President Trump’s long-time friend Roger Stone. There has been a flurry of new developments related the Russian investigation in recent days. A White House official acknowledged that and said that everyone gets their moment in the hot seat and circus. Norah?

NORAH O’DONNELL: Alright, Jeff, thank you.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Meanwhile, De Blasio’s right hand man and big time Dem loser had CHILD PORN on his computer and not a peep from the press..Debbie Wasserman Schultz can THREATEN an officer that they will suffer the “Consequences” if they investigate her and not a peep from the Commie press

[musicman]

Help FR Continue the Conservative Fight!
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[ExTexasRedhead]

Huge FYI on John Brennan

http://redstatewatcher.com/article.asp?id=80652

spectator.org

“...An article in the Guardian last week provides more confirmation that John Brennan was the American progenitor of political espionage aimed at defeating Donald Trump. One side did collude with foreign powers to tip the election — Hillary’s. Seeking to retain his position as CIA director under Hillary, Brennan teamed up with British spies and Estonian spies to cripple Trump’s candidacy. He used their phony intelligence as a pretext for a multi-agency investigation into Trump, which led the FBI to probe a computer server connected to Trump Tower and gave cover to Susan Rice, among other Hillary supporters, to spy on Trump and his people. John Brennan’s CIA operated like a branch office of the Hillary campaign, leaking out mentions of this bogus investigation to the press in the hopes of inflicting maximum political damage on Trump. An official in the intelligence community tells TAS that Brennan’s retinue of political radicals didn’t even bother to hide their activism, decorating offices with “Hillary for president cups” and other campaign paraphernalia. ...”

[gov_bean_ counter]

And the password is...

(in a whispered voice)

“Scrutiny”

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Oh come on, we all know what happened. Kushner went looking for a hacker so he could help Trump steal the election, so Kushner invested in some Russian real estate to get on the good side of the Russians and get a good hacker to work for him. Then he had the hacker hack Hillarys emails and then it was sent to Wikileaks and we found out Debbie Wasserman Schultz supported Hillary and Bernie Sanders lost and that is why Trump won. Stolen election! Stolen election! Impeach Trump!

[Repeal 16-17]

The Liberal Media is in full-scale propaganda mode when it comes to President Trump and anyone working with or related to him. They should be considered a PAC for the Democratic Party.

[be-baw]

No surprise the MSM will continue to pound on Trump by any and all means available. Not only will they greatly exaggerate anything related to Trump, but they will continue to recycle old news that we knew about months ago related to Flynn, Manafort, Kushner,Sessions and anyone else who might have had Russian contacts. Hard to determine how much effect their full frontal assault is having. 2018 elections will be a good indicator. GOP should pick up at least 6 Senate seats.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

But the thing is, the propaganda they are pushing is utterly and completely insane. This has been going on for how long now? And I am still trying to figure out just how the Russians would help Trump win a POTUS election. Democrats won’t tell us because they don’t know themselves. It’s like that logic banter in the movie “Monte Python and the Holy grail” where they are investigating a woman for being a witch and their logic is completely and utterly off the wall. They put a carrot on her nose and then claim she has a long nose therefore she must be a witch. If Kushner had some real estate dealings in Russia or investments, how is THAT even remotely related to a US POTUS election? Did he invest in real estate to bribe the Russian government to get a hacker? And if he did get a hacker just what exactly did this hacker do? Can anyone explain to me one single solitary thing in Wikileaks that damaged Hillary Clintons campaign? The fact is she lost because she sat on her fat cankle supported arse her entire campaign while Trump was out there every day busting his. In her arrogance she thought she would easily win as if she were royalty about to be coronated. Everything is getting blamed except Hillary herself.

[rodguy911]

All that to keep people from investigating Seth Rich's death.The commies know who the real leaker is. So does our side for that matter. But no one but the blogosphere,us, will act on it.

I'm not going to stop no matter what. Sooner or later the truth will out.

[Steve_Seattle]

They even called him a “person of interest,” a term which is usually reserved for a suspect in a known crime.

[rodguy911]

Brennan has been deep state,cabal for many years. We just didn’t know it.
Everyone by now knows he’s a practicing muzzie doing the prayer rug stuff right in his office.Unreal!

[ExTexasRedhead]

I would classify him as a traitor.

[rodguy911]

The Russia/Putin/Trump saga now being played by the left gets complex but it is understandable and not really new. Here is my take that helps me understand how the left plays the game.In the end its all politics.

............

If you have watched,read,listened to previous DNC/deep state ops they all have a lot in common. Each and every one is designed to achieve a number of goals and has what I have termed tentacles reaching out in all kind of directions. Open borders for example:

1. Let in terror types of all genre.

2. Collapse the economy by Cloward Pivening the economy and the govt. welfare system.

3. Make many dependent on the govt. since the free market will produce fewer jobs that the third worlders won’t suck right up.

4.Savage the economy, the deficit,increase the debt.

5. Savage the vote,put enough Hispanics on the dem roles and they stay in power forever.

I could go on but by now you get it.

Each and every op from the Arab Spring to IRS clamping down on conservatives,savaging the military to busting the budget,doubling the debt. They all had multiple goals in mind.

The Trump/Putin/Russia op is the same:

1. Overall goal impeach Trump.

2. Effect 2018 elections.

3. Divert attention from Seth Rich murder

4. Keep ignoring 85 million dollar lawsuit by Bernie donors.

It goes on and on these guys are super slick.

The expertise,savagery,well funded nature of all these ops wreaks of groups such as the CIA.They and a few others have extensive experience in undermining not only both sides of the aisle but small governments, drug running,operation Mockingbird-- screwing with the media, you name it.

[JerseyDvl]

When I woke up Kushner was under scrutiny. By the time Rush came on at noon he was under INTENSE scrutiny. By tomorrow, he’ll be a full fledged Russian spy raised in a charm school where he was taught to act and speak like an American.

[rodguy911]

Any you would be correct.!!

[Grampa Dave]

Mukasey and Dershowitz Nuke the Fake News Hit on Jared Kushner

Rush Limbaugh.com ^ | May 26, 2017 | Rush Limbaugh

Posted on 5/26/2017, 1:53:32 PM by Kaslin

RUSH: Okay. It’s Open Line Friday, and I’m gonna get to the phones in the next segment. There’s real not enough time here to be fair with anybody, and there’s nobody up there I want to be unfair with, so we will wait.

I just want to give you examples, again, of what I was just talking about. There isn’t a shred of evidence, there’s not a morsel of evidence for anything being alleged. Now, you might say, “Rush, there has to be. All this coverage.” I’m telling you, there isn’t. There isn’t a shred of evidence. They don’t have any evidence on Flynn.

By the way, the Democrats, Sheldon Whitehouse very, very worried that Flynn is already in secret talks with the DOJ, and they’re mad at Mueller because Mueller is taking all the investigative aims away from them in Congress. He’s not gonna permit them. They think the fix is in. But look at this. Washington Post: “Jared Kushner is Now a Focus in Russia Investigation.”

By the way, after the break there’s some sound bites that go with this, and then we’ll get to the phones. Some excellent sound bites that go with this. So hang on. “Jared Kushner is Now a Focus in Russia Investigation.” What does that tell you? And then if you go look at the Washington Post top 20 stories, 18 of them are Jared Kushner or 15 of ’em.

And if you read story, listen to this: “Kushner is the only current White House official known to be considered a key person in the probe. The Post has not been told that Kushner is a target — or the central focus — of the investigation, and he has not been accused of any wrong doing.”

Well, then what’s the story? Jared Kushner now a focus in Russia investigation? “The investigators are focusing on a series of meetings held by Jared Kushner, son-in-law,” blah, blah. And then you read, “Kushner is the only current White House official known to be considered a key person in the probe.” The Washington Post has not been told that Kushner’s a target or the central focus of the investigation, and he has not been accused of any wrong doing. Well, then there’s not a morsel of evidence. He’s not a key figure in this!

They’re just writing another story that served as the bombshell at 5:30 yesterday. NBC News did the same thing. “Jared Kushner, Trump’s Son-in-Law, Has Come Under FBI Scrutiny in the Russia Investigation.” And then later, “Investigators believe he has significant information. But that does not mean they suspect him of a crime or even intend to charge him.” Well, then what are you trying to do here, Washington Post, NBC? It’s obvious to us what you’re trying to do. Because there isn’t any news here.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

But again a reminder, Washington Post: “Jared Kushner Now Focus in Russia Investigation — The Post has not been told that Kushner is a target or the central focus of the investigation, and he’s not been accused of any wrongdoing.” It’s not a criminal investigation anyway, folks. There is no such thing as a focus.

The story is entirely unnecessary, unless it is a part of a continuum that is a focused assassination attempt on Trump and the administration. NBC News does the same thing. “NBC News reporting that Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, one of his senior advisers, has come under FBI scrutiny in the Russia investigation.”

Folks, there is not a morsel of evidence for any allegation. And after practically indicting Kushner here, NBC says, “But that does not mean they suspect him of a crime or even intend to charge him.” No reason to do the story. There’s no probative value, news value. There’s nothing new, nothing that wasn’t true yesterday that is true today or vice-versa. It’s unconscionable. It’s journalistic malpractice.

Backing this up, audio sound bites, last night, CNN, Anderson Cooper 95. He’s talking with the former attorney general, Michael Mukasey, about reports that Kushner has become a focus in the Russia election. Anderson Cooper says in his question, “Jared Kushner is not a suspect here. He is not a person of interest. He is just, we’re told, a focus. They want to speak to him because it seems like he was basically a witness. What do you make of this, Attorney General Mukasey?”

MUKASEY: If you read back what you just said, you used two terms that are unknown to any federal investigator. “Person of interest” is not a term that any federal investigator ever uses, and it’s not a term that’s appropriate to this investigation. This is a national security investigation. It’s not a criminal investigation. So pretty much everybody is a witness. Now, what are they a witness to? They’re probably a witness to the fact that the Russians were trying to get close to influence people of influence. That’s what they do. That is not in itself surprising.

[BestPresidentEver]

Good, I don’t like Kushner and want him out of the white house.

[sheik yerbouty]

Not to mention that he converted to TROP and still gets his orders frm 0buttbongo..

[RitaOK]

Apparently circulating misinformation, innuendo, slander, and ommissions of the opposing facts is legal and acceptable behavior.

We have no elite media to counter the corporate onslaught against a traditional patriot president. To get good press you can not be white, display common sense and do math.

God, help us.