Judy: A $2 billion investment
that president trump, former
president trump's son-in-law
secure last summer from a fund
led by the crown prince of Saudi
Arabia has raised questions
about the ethics of post white
house business dealings.
Kushner's private equity firm
secured the investment after
crown prince Mohammad bin Salman
overruled a host of objections
from the sovereign wealth funds
advisors.
The New York Times reported some
of the group's concerns.
The private equity firm was
found to be "Unsatisfactory in
all aspects."
The kingdom would be taking on
the bulk of the investment in
the risk.
The asset management fee and
public relations risks due to
Kushner's involvement.
Jeff Benedict explores the
involvement -- the relationship
between Kushner and the crown
prince that help shape the deal.
Correspondent: President trump
built ties with Saudi Royals and
one person was usually in the
room.
Son-in-law and senior advisor
year and Kushner.
Like trump, Kushner arrived to
the white house with a business
-- as a businessman with no
policy experience.
He became the architect of much
of the Middle East strategy.
>> We hope this will start a
more historic journey for the
Middle East and beyond.
Correspondent: On the campaign
trail, candidate trump took a
harsh line on the kingdom.
>> Take Saudi Arabia.
Why aren't they paying?
Correspondent: He attacked
Hillary Clinton for a country he
called a criminal enterprise.
>> These are countries that
treat women horribly and you
take their money.
Correspondent: As a president,
he charted a different course.
>> We really have a great
friendship.
A great relationship.
Correspondent: Two months into
office, he welcomed Mohammed bin
Salman to an oval office meeting
and formal lunch.
It is believed to be the first
time fisher and the Saudi royal
met in person.
But they wouldn't be a part for
long.
Eight weeks later, president
trump traveled to Saudi Arabia
capital city, the first stop on
his first foreign trip.
>> My meetings with king Salman,
the crown prince and the deputy
crown prince have been filled
with great warmth, goodwill, and
tremendous cooperation.
Correspondent: Mbs rose from
deputy crown prince to crown
prince, the second-highest
leader of the country.
Now the heir apparent, he
returns to Washington in 2018
where he dined with Kushner and
met with trump who boasted about
a $12.5 billion arms sale.
>> The relationship is as good
as it correspondent: Has ever
been.
That relationship was tested
seven month later when a
journalist was kidnapped,
murdered, and dismembered by a
group of Saudi agents suspected
of following orders from the
crown prince.
Trump was reluctant to lay blame
on mbs for the killing.
>> I want to see the facts
first.
Saudi Arabia has been a great
ally and one of the biggest
investors in our country.
Correspondent: At that point,
Kushner, 37 years old and the
crown prince spoke regularly.
The New York Times reported that
they were on a first name basis
calling each other.
And Mohammed -- Jared and M
ohammed.
Jared said he offered advice.
>> Just to be transparent to the
world is watching this.
Correspondent: The senate
condemned him.
>> Unanimously, the U.S. Senate
has said that crown prince
Mohammad bin Salman is
responsible for the murder of
Jamaal khashoggi.
Correspondent: Kushner would not
go that far.
>> I don't know what the
administration is waiting for in
terms of accountability.
>> I believe there is a report
they are working on and when
they have the facts, it will be
up to the president to make a
determination on what he wants
to do.
Correspondent: The
administration never punished
Saudi leaders for the killing or
for military actions in Yemen.
Trump went as far as vetoing two
bipartisan measure that would
have banned Saudi rep and --
weapon sales.
All of this colors the $2
billion investment that Kushner
received from mbs last year,
says Kathleen Clark, an ethics
professor at Washington
university St. Louis school of
law.
>> Kushner being able to exploit
his access to the president, his
power within the trump
administration and translate
that directly into personal
financial -- extraordinary
personal financial benefit for
himself.
Trump talked about draining the
swamp and we have a swamp
monster in this story.
>> Is there anybody here that
would like to see me run again?
Correspondent: With Donald Trump
floating a potential run in
2024, the scrutiny of Kushner's
the lings only -- dealings only
intensifies.
Correspondent: -- >> There is
some law on the books that
should prevent Kushner from
participating.
But what we know is that
president trump is perfectly
happy and seems to embrace
disregard for ethical standards
as we saw repeatedly.
Correspondent: A big dollar deal
with big ethical questions.
For the pbs newshour, I'm geoff
Bennett.