Jared Kushner Image by Department of Defense

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Jared Kushner said that the special counsel investigation into Russian interference was “much more harmful” than the Russian interference itself.

“The investigations and all the speculation that has happened over the last few years has had a much harsher impact on democracy than a few Facebook ads,” President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and aide said Tuesday at a Time magazine event. “If you look at the magnitude of what they did and all they accomplished, I think the ensuing investigations have been much more harmful.”

The special counsel, Robert Mueller, in a report made public last week said “The Russian government interfered in the 2016 presidential election in sweeping and systematic fashion.” Over 400 pages he detailed alleged Russian government efforts to upend the election not only through false social media representations, but through the theft and publication of Democratic Party communications, and attempts to recruit figures in the Trump campaign, among other acts.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Mueller has secured multiple indictments and several convictions in the course of his probe. He stopped short of recommending prosecution of Trump, saying in his report that pursuing criminal charges against the president is a matter for Congress.

Mueller did not charge Kushner, who was implicated in at least one encounter with Russians who offered to help with the election. The campaign did not take up that particular offer, but it is not clear yet whether Kushner faces actions in a number of referrals Mueller made to other legal jurisdictions.

Trump and his aides have cast the Mueller report simultaneously as a vindication and an illegal attempt to interfere with the Trump presidency.

The president appeared to approve of Kushner’s remarks.

“Great interview by Jared,” he said on Twitter. “Nice to have extraordinarily smart people serving our Country!”

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. We’re in the middle of our Passover Fundraising Drive, and we have a very ambitious goal of $127,000 by April 21.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a Passover gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Make a Passover Gift Today!

$90 $180

$360

Other amount