Hakeem Jeffries dismisses Kushner meeting concerns

Hakeem Jeffries met privately with Jared Kushner, and everybody has questions.

The New York Times reported Sunday that the House Democratic leader had a private meeting with President Trump’s son-in-law to discuss potential areas of common ground.

On the surface, that’s politics. Jeffries could soon be Speaker if Democrats win the House, so having conversations with people close to the White House makes sense. Probably would make more sense to people who actually have jobs in the White House, but I digress.

Jeffries then posted this video defending the meeting.

“He asked for a meeting and I took it, to discuss the affordability crisis that exists that is not a hoax. At the same period in time — I shouldn’t have to say it, but I am — no one is going to get a pass. We’re gonna hold every single member of the Trump cartel accountable, beginning on day one,” said the House minority leader.

OK. But I have questions. First, why are you dressed like it’s St. Patrick’s Day?

Jeffries says in that moment he just finished community work, and maybe that’s exactly what happened. But the video felt very intentional and like trying too hard.

Back to Hakeem Jeffries meeting with Jared Kushner. Trump has called Jeffries a “thug” and attacked his intelligence as low IQ, and Jeffries has spent years portraying Trump as extreme and corrupt, vowing to hold him accountable. So meeting with Kushner about affordability doesn’t exactly make sense.

Jeffries has longstanding ties to the pro-Israel political and donor network. Campaign-finance tracking shows roughly $1.7 million in AIPAC-linked support over his political career, depending on how broader affiliated spending is counted. Of course that does not prove AIPAC had anything to do with this meeting, but it is relevant context: Kushner also has longstanding financial and diplomatic connections involving Israel, including large donations to AIPAC.

Take a look at this New York Times headline : “Kushner’s Financial Ties to Israel Deepen Even With Mideast Diplomatic Role”

The Times previously reported that while Kushner was serving in the first Trump administration, his family real estate company received roughly $30 million from one of the largest Israeli insurers. His company also took loans from Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s largest bank.

Again, none of that tells us what was discussed between Kushner and Jeffries, but it tells us this isn’t simply two guys talking about the price of eggs. There are significant political, diplomatic and financial relationships surrounding both men, and that’s why people are asking questions.

Tommy Vietor put it bluntly : “Jared Kushner has no actual government job he just uses his family connections to get money from gulf autocrats and fund corrupt deals. The only way @RepJeffries should work with him is with demands for documents and subpoenas.”

Kushner has no formal government job right now, yet he has extraordinary access to the president and Jeffries could soon have extraordinary power in Congress.

So maybe this meeting really was about affordability. Maybe it was simply a potential Speaker talking to someone who has the president’s ear. But if that’s the case, Democrats deserve more transparency — so why was it a secret?

Jeffries cannot spend years promising to hold the Trump administration accountable and then expect people not to question private meetings with one of Trump’s closest family members.

Lindsey Granger is a NewsNation contributor and co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising.” This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.