Rep. Jamie Raskin on Jared Kushner, Saudi Arabia, and Election Integrity

Investigation into Jared Kushner and Saudi Arabia

• 🏛️ Congressman Jamie Raskin and Senator Ron Wyden have urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Jared Kushner for potentially serving as an unregistered agent of the Saudi government.
• 💰 The core of the concern is Kushner's firm, Affinity Partners, receiving substantial "management fees" ($87 million from Saudi Arabia alone) from a fund that has not yet made significant investments, raising questions about potential payoff contracts.
• ⚖️ Raskin argues that acting as a representative for a foreign government without registering is a crime under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
• 🤝 Kushner's continued advice to Trump on foreign policy and promotion of Saudi interests suggest he may be acting as a paid foreign agent, creating embedded conflicts of interest.

Election Outlook and Political Rhetoric

• 🗳️ Raskin expresses optimism about the upcoming election, citing large crowds and high engagement, despite what he calls a "propaganda push" from the right wing to demoralize voters.
• 📢 He criticizes the Trump campaign for lacking a real program and relying on "scapegoating and racist and misogynistic and anti-semitic and gay bashing kind of rhetoric."
• 🇺🇸 Raskin believes President Biden's decision to run has energized the country and predicts a strong Democratic victory.

Progressive Concerns and Foreign Policy

• 🇵🇸 Raskin addresses concerns from some progressives about the US stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, acknowledging the suffering on both sides.
• 🤝 He states that while the US has an "ironclad commitment" to Israel's security, there must also be a commitment to human rights for Palestinians and efforts to relieve suffering in Gaza and the West Bank.
• 🗳️ Raskin urges progressives to vote for Kamala Harris, warning that not doing so or voting for third parties objectively helps Donald Trump, whom he describes as part of an "alliance of dictators and desperates and autocrats and theocrats and kleptocrats."
• 🌍 He critiques the Biden administration's foreign policy for not always prioritizing human rights over strategic or economic considerations, but maintains that standing up for human rights and pursuing peace are not irreconcilable goals.

Election Integrity and the 14th Amendment

• 📜 Raskin clarifies his position on challenging election results, stating he will accept the results of a "free and fair and lawful" election, contrasting this with Donald Trump's actions in 2020.
• 🏛️ He explains his interpretation of the 14th Amendment's Section 3, which disqualifies individuals who have engaged in insurrection from holding office, and criticizes the Supreme Court for not definitively ruling on Trump's eligibility.
• 🗣️ Raskin argues that the Supreme Court irresponsibly punted the decision to Congress, which he believes is unlikely to act due to Republican control and a desire to absolve Trump.
• ⚖️ He asserts that while other parts of the 14th Amendment are self-executing, determining an "insurrection" requires a process, and criticizes the Senate's dismissal of Trump's responsibility in the January 6th events.
• 🇺🇸 Raskin places his faith in the people to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law at the ballot box, emphasizing that Democrats will not attempt to overthrow an election.