Jared Kushner has had his security clearance downgraded, according to reports on Tuesday, leaving the senior adviser and son-in-law to Donald Trump without direct access to top secret intelligence and sensitive documents that include the president’s daily brief.
Kushner was notified of the downgrade in a memo on Friday, along with other White House aides who had access to the highest-level interim clearances, Politico and others reported on Tuesday.
Kushner and the aides previously held what is known as Top Secret/SCI-level clearances, which provided them with unfettered access to classified information and some of the country’s most guarded secrets.
The president has the unilateral authority to share classified information as he sees fit, including with his son-in-law, despite the clearance downgrade.
The White House did not immediately return a request for comment when reached by the Guardian.
One reason that Kushner has been unable to obtain clearance has been his extensive contacts with foreign officials, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed government officials.
The report said that officials in four foreign countries – the United Arab Emirates, China, Israel and Mexico – have discussed ways to manipulate Kushner based on his business debts and inexperience.
The move comes after the White House struggled to contain the fallout of a controversy surrounding Rob Porter, who served as Trump’s staff secretary but was forced to resign this month after he was accused of domestic violence by both of his ex-wives.
For more read the full of article at The Guardian
