Jared Kushner is facing renewed congressional scrutiny over a potential conflict between his diplomatic work for President Donald Trump and investments held by his private equity firm, Affinity Partners.
Rep.
Robert Garcia, the ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, demanded answers from Kushner on October 6, 2026, about Affinity’s position in Phoenix Financial, an Israeli company that has investments in businesses supplying Israel’s military.
Garcia said Phoenix Financial holds as much as US$456 million in nine companies connected to Israel’s military, including the country’s largest arms manufacturer.
His letter asks Kushner to explain the investment, his financial relationships in the Middle East and whether his private interests overlap with U.S. foreign-policy decisions.
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Why Jared Kushner’s investments are under review
Kushner is serving as a key outside envoy for Trump on Middle East matters, including negotiations involving Gaza.
At the same time, he remains the founder and chief executive of Affinity Partners, an investment firm backed largely by foreign capital.
That dual role has drawn criticism from congressional Democrats, who argue that Kushner’s private investments could create competing financial incentives while he participates in sensitive diplomatic discussions.
Garcia’s letter says Affinity is the largest shareholder in Phoenix Financial.
The letter also says Phoenix has invested in nine companies that supply Israel’s military, creating questions about whether Kushner could benefit financially from policy outcomes connected to the region.
The allegations have not been established as wrongdoing, and the congressional request is part of an oversight inquiry rather than a criminal finding.
Affinity Partners’ foreign funding
Affinity Partners has previously faced scrutiny because much of its capital has come from foreign investors, including sovereign wealth funds associated with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
A House Judiciary Democrats inquiry in April said Affinity had approximately US$6.16 billion in assets under management and that 99 per cent of its funding came from foreign nationals.
The committee said the firm had raised roughly US$1.2 billion during the preceding year.
The firm also received a US$2-billion investment from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund after Kushner left the first Trump administration in 2021.
That investment has been the subject of repeated congressional questions because of its size and timing.
Affinity has not been accused by a court of illegally influencing U.S. policy in connection with those investments.
However, lawmakers are seeking records to determine whether the firm’s financial relationships create disclosure, ethics or foreign-agent concerns.
Kushner’s expanding diplomatic role
Kushner’s role has expanded beyond the Middle East.
White House records show him travelling with special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow and Kyiv in September for meetings related to the Russia-Ukraine war.
The White House identified Kushner as a special envoy during meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on September 5 and 6, 2026.
His involvement in several high-stakes negotiations has increased the importance of questions about his financial ties, particularly because he is not operating as a conventional Senate-confirmed cabinet official.
Garcia’s office said the envoy arrangement allows Kushner to avoid some financial disclosure requirements that apply to formal government officials.
The letter seeks detailed information about his investments, communications with foreign officials and dealings with Gulf monarchies.
What Congress is asking Kushner to provide
The Oversight inquiry is seeking information that could clarify how Affinity Partners selected Phoenix Financial and whether Kushner’s diplomatic activities have affected the firm’s investments.
- Details of Affinity Partners’ ownership and investment in Phoenix Financial.
- Information about Phoenix’s holdings in military and defence-related companies.
- Communications involving Kushner, foreign governments and U.S. officials.
- Records concerning financial backing from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
- Information about Kushner’s role in Gaza and other Middle East negotiations.
The request is part of a broader effort by House Democrats to examine business dealings involving Trump family members and people close to the administration.
In a separate inquiry, House Judiciary Democrat Jamie Raskin has accused Kushner of failing to respond to earlier requests about his foreign-funded investment firm and his diplomatic work.
Raskin expanded that investigation in August to include Kushner’s planned luxury resort project near Albania’s Sazan Island.
What happens next
Kushner and Affinity Partners will have to decide whether to answer Garcia’s request voluntarily.
If they do not, lawmakers could seek additional records through further oversight action, although the political balance and committee authorities will affect what Congress can compel.
The inquiry is also likely to intensify attention on how presidents use informal envoys who carry out sensitive negotiations without the same public reporting obligations as full-time government officials.
For now, no formal criminal charge or public enforcement action has been announced against Kushner in connection with the Phoenix Financial investment.
The immediate issue is whether Congress can obtain enough information to assess the boundaries between his government work and private business interests.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Jared Kushner facing congressional scrutiny?
Lawmakers are examining whether his role as a Trump administration envoy overlaps with Affinity Partners’ investments in companies connected to Israel’s military suppliers.
What is Affinity Partners?
Affinity Partners is a private investment firm founded and led by Jared Kushner, with substantial funding from foreign investors and sovereign wealth funds.
What is Phoenix Financial?
Phoenix Financial is an Israeli financial company in which Affinity Partners is reported to be the largest shareholder. Phoenix has investments in companies that supply Israel’s military.
Has Jared Kushner been charged with a crime?
No criminal charge related to the Phoenix Financial investment has been announced. The matter is currently the subject of congressional oversight and requests for information.
What could happen next in the inquiry?
Kushner and Affinity Partners may respond voluntarily, while lawmakers could pursue additional records or oversight measures if they do not receive satisfactory answers.
Fact-Checked: Key dates, figures and the congressional requests were checked against official House committee releases and White House records.
Disclaimer: The allegations described remain subject to congressional review, and no finding of criminal wrongdoing has been announced.