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babylonsister

(172,519 posts)
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 07:43 AM Friday

Kushner, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia: The Conflict-of-Interest Story Everyone's Ignoring

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/thom-hartmann/115605/kushner-ukraine-saudi-arabia-the-conflict-of-interest-story-everyone-s-ignoring

Kushner, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia: The Conflict-of-Interest Story Everyone’s Ignoring
by Thom Hartmann | December 5, 2025 - 6:02am

— from The Hartmann Report


I don’t know why this wasn’t above-the-fold news all across the country over the past few days as the details of the “peace plan” Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff took to Putin this week came out.

Kushner, it appears, had added in a provision that would have forced both Ukraine and Russia to take actions that would specifically benefit Saudi Arabia, a country that is paying the presidential son-in-law at least $25 million a year.

snip//

So, it probably shouldn’t surprise us that Jared, after taking $2 billion from the Saudis along with his $25 million/year “fee,” would insert a paragraph into the Russia/Ukraine deal that would benefit the Saudi crown prince who’s been his top benefactor.

And, even more astonishing, that he is serving in this position without any legal authority in violation of federal law. As Judd Legum explains, if he’s a private individual it’s a felony crime for him to negotiate with a foreign government, and if he’s acting on behalf of our government he’s a “special government employee” and therefore subject to the Emoluments Clause.

Either way, what he’s doing is deeply illegal. As well as apparently deeply corrupt.

But where’s the press on this? And when will Democrats begin an investigation into it?


Inquiring minds want to know…
14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

IthinkThereforeIAM

(3,265 posts)
1. I wonderd WTF is Kushner doing there...
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 08:28 AM
Friday

... when watching the news clips of Witkoff being greeted by Putin and welcomed to the "negotiation table". Going to end up handing over our F-35's to Russia and China.

Biophilic

(6,343 posts)
2. What are they going to do to him? Trump will just pardon him.
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 08:40 AM
Friday

Everyday things are just a bit (or a lot) more out of control. At the rate they are going there aren't going to be any pieces to pick back up.

MLWR

(717 posts)
3. Very likely nothing will happen until TACO is gone and Democrats are in charge.
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 08:49 AM
Friday

Before that, it's a waste of time, effort and taxpayer dollars. Since TACO will just pardon him.

PCIntern

(27,893 posts)
4. I "love" how the MSM mentions Kushner as the negotiator
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 09:07 AM
Friday

just casually, like it’s not the most ridiculous thing imaginable or nearly so. It would be like me being hired to run a steel fabrication factory.

BumRushDaShow

(164,338 posts)
5. I don't think "everyone''s ignoring it"
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 09:16 AM
Friday

The people who know it's wrong don't have any power to do anything about it because the people who DO have the power are the ones "making it happen".

It's another one of the casualties brought to you buy the truism of "elections have consequences".

KS Toronado

(22,512 posts)
12. Top Secret MAGIC and a small million dollar donation and it can be yours
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 09:34 PM
Friday

on my Windows 10, it's highlight it. right click, copy image link, and then paste in a word document.
Then any time you want to use it just highlight and copy image, paste where you want to use it.
Have all kinds of them, one of these days I might paste a bunch in the humor forum or maybe in the Lounge
so other people could start using them.

Mountain Dew

Orange man in jail











loyal magats




That's the tip of the iceberg and now I'm going to bed.........

electric_blue68

(25,308 posts)
13. Can it be 1 million in "small" play money bills? 😉 Sleep Well!
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 09:51 PM
Friday

Last edited Fri Dec 5, 2025, 11:09 PM - Edit history (1)

You got some fun ones!

A music site i occasionally still look at started near the time DU did. I see a few here that they also used.

A few that were extra funny (can only post the name not the image were)
:grumpy:
a different :rant : one
:zen:

I'm going to see if I can find them on line somewhere. If I do I'll let you know.

ETA:
I found something called
gifcities.org

While I might not find the actual ones I'm looking for - which are animated gifs; they have tons of stuff! Kind of fun to peruse through. 👍

Bev54

(13,101 posts)
7. As usual the MSM chases the sensational and this allows the Trump admin to perform real crimes with little notice
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 09:52 AM
Friday

And the Trump admin are masters at creating scandals so everyone looks the other way.

Martin Eden

(15,246 posts)
8. This should be a MAJOR SCANDAL, and...
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 10:41 AM
Friday

Indictments should be forthcoming from the Justice Dept.

Does Pam Bondi know what's going on?

pat_k

(12,610 posts)
10. A scandal that is bigger than ten of the biggest scandals in our history put together.
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 06:23 PM
Friday

That is how the magnitude of the treason was framed in the 12/1 discussion between Stuart Stevens and Simon Rosenberg.

More in post 9
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220848431#post9

pat_k

(12,610 posts)
9. The leaked Witkoff phone call is treason.
Fri Dec 5, 2025, 06:21 PM
Friday

It should be front and center as a scandal that is bigger than ten of the biggest scandals in our history put together. That is how the magnitude of the treason was framed in the 12/1 discussion between Stuart Stevens and Simon Rosenberg.

I'd call the entire conversation a "must hear," but that would probably be ignored. But it is a substantial, potentially pivotal discussion that provides direction on what we need to be pushing our Democratic electeds to step up on.

That is, to stop limiting themselves to "kitchen table" issues. There are more legs to the "stool."

Get loud about the Un-American, Un-Patriotic Self-dealing, Corruption, and Crimes being committed in plain sight by Noem, Patel, Bobby, Witkoff, Trump, and on and on. Weaken the regime by going after key figures, not just Trump. Criminal referrals. Call on the Senate to set up a task force akin to the House Democrats Litigation / Response Task Force.

They talk about the importance of language. Framing the accusations against Republicans when you call. (They talk in more general terms, but we can benefit from listening to the way Stuart frames objections to specific actions.)





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