As special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation continues to dog the administration, President Trump has reportedly been venting about the part he believes senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner played leading up to the probe's launch.
As special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation continues to dog the administration, President Trump has reportedly been venting about the part he believes senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner played leading up to the probe's launch.
"Speaking to Steve Bannon on Tuesday, Trump blamed Jared Kushner for his role in decisions, specifically the firings of Mike Flynn and James Comey, that led to Mueller's appointment, according to a source briefed on the call," a new Vanity Fair report states.
Previous media accounts had indicated that Kushner backed the dismissal of former FBI Director James Comey, but some also noted that the move was supported by other administration officials like Vice President Mike Pence and White House counsel Don McGahn.
Meanwhile, when White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked in a Monday briefing if the president blamed Kushner for helping bring on former campaign chair Paul Manafort--one of the first to be indicted by Mueller--she said, "Not that I'm aware of, no."
As the New York Times reported in April, Trump "decided that Mr. Manafort should replace Corey Lewandowski, his campaign manager, in June after a push by Mr. Trump's adult children and Mr. Kushner.
However, the Daily Beast later pointed to the president's ally Roger Stone as the one who, according to insider sources at the time, "made a strong case to Trump to bring in Manafort."
Regardless of Kushner's role, the president is said have reacted negatively to the recent indictments, and there is speculation that he may decide to fight back more aggressively, as some in his inner circle are suggesting, notes CNN.
