NJ Sen. Cory Booker reportedly received past campaign donations from Jared Kushner
NJ Sen. Cory Booker reportedly received past campaign donations from Jared Kushner
May 31st 2017 1:08AM
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat, is facing increased scrutiny for his response to allegations against President Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner after reports emerged that Kushner and his family have reportedly donated generously to Booker's campaigns in the past.
During an interview with CNN on Sunday, the lawmaker was asked about his view on the DNC, or Democratic National Committee's call to suspend Kushner's security clearance amid a report that he tried to create a back-channel of communications with Russia.
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Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner in Saudi Arabia, Israel
Booker eventually said, "I think we need to first get to the bottom of it, he needs to answer for what was happening at the time."
He then added, "It raises very serious concerns for me. And that could be a potential outcome that I seek, but I want to understand, at least hear from Jared Kushner, as well as the administration, about what was exactly going on there."
Top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA 28th District) expressed a similar sentiment, telling ABC's This Week, "I think we need to get to the bottom of these allegations."
"But I do think there ought to be a review of his security clearance to find out whether he was truthful, whether he was candid," Schiff continued. "If not, then there's no way he can maintain that kind of a clearance."
In contrast, Adrienne Watson, a top communications official for the DNC, recently issued much stronger statements, calling for Kushner's security clearance to be suspended, and she later tweeted that "Trump has no choice but to fire Kushner..."
On Monday, the International Business Times reported that Kushner and other affiliated donors "delivered more than $41,000 to Booker's Senate campaign in 2013." The article sites data compiled by PoliticalMoneyLine.com.
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Jared Kushner through the years
In fact, Politico released a story about one fundraising event for Booker that year which was hosted by Ivanka Trump and held at her Manhattan home.
The International Business Times piece goes on to reveal that, in 2009, Booker's mayoral run was boosted with a $20,000 contribution from Kushner, based on state records.
It does not appear that Booker has issued a response to these allegations, but party members who were hoping he could be a strong contender in the 2020 presidential race have reportedly expressed disappointment.
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