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Reported via The Washington Post: May 6, 2017
Kushner Family's Beijing Visa Sale: $500,000 - Any Takers?
Background
In 2017, shortly after Trump assumed power and appointed his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as a senior White House adviser, the Kushner family, spearheaded by Jared's sister Nicole Kushner Meyer, organized a prominent investment event in Beijing, China. The event aimed to attract wealthy Chinese investors to invest in their New Jersey apartment complex and raised eyebrows due to its association with the Trump regime and Kushner's role as a crucial diplomatic intermediary between Beijing and the White House.
Notably, the event prominently featured an ostentatious billboard bearing the Kushner name, further emphasizing its association with Jared Kushner, serving in the White House. Attendees were presented with a unique proposition: invest in the New Jersey property and gain access to coveted EB-5 investor visas, all for a steep price of $500,000 per visa—
Here is What Happened…
The Kushner family, led by Jared Kushner's sister Nicole Kushner Meyer, organized an investment event in Beijing, China, targeting affluent Chinese investors.
The event promoted investments in their New Jersey luxury apartment complex, enticing investors with the promise of securing EB-5 investor visas in exchange for a $500,000 investment.
Attendees were encouraged to act swiftly due to potential changes in visa rules under the Trump regime, heightening the urgency of the investment opportunity.
According to a report by the Government Accountability Office in 2015, the EB-5 program was flagged for its high risk of fraud, pervasive use of counterfeit documentation, and lack of "reliable method to verify the source of the funds of petitioners."
“It’s incredibly stupid and highly inappropriate,” said Richard Painter, the former chief White House ethics lawyer in President George W. Bush’s administration, stated. “They clearly imply that the Kushners are going to make sure you get your visa. . . . They’re [Chinese applicants] not going to take a chance. Of course they’re going to want to invest.”
Why It Matters…
In the early days of Trump's regime, blatant corruption became evident as they wielded government power to advance family business interests, serving as a stark warning about prioritizing personal gain over public service. Furthermore, the EB-5 program's visa-for-investment exchange, which has been criticized for its susceptibility to corruption and national security risks, especially with Chinese investors, and for threatening U.S. integrity was heightened by the Trump regime's prioritization of personal gain over security concerns. Additionally, the appointments of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to senior-level positions in the White House, despite anti-nepotism regulations, highlight the troubling parallels with authoritarian regimes, where family members occupy senior government roles and exploit power for personal gain.