Jared Kushner’s Russian Escapade: New at Reason

Suppose that shortly after the 2008 election, Barack Obama’s adviser Valerie Jarrett met with the Chinese ambassador and suggested using a secure link at his embassy to communicate with Beijing beyond the reach of U.S. intelligence agencies. Congressional Republicans and just about everyone else would have been shocked and aggrieved, Steve Chapman surmises. But that’s the equivalent of what President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, did with the Russians, according to The Washington Post.

And yet, somehow, Trump loyalists and allies have done their best to treat it as normal or commendable. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said, “Any channel of communication, back or otherwise, with a country like Russia is a good thing.” A back channel is a fine option, agreed national security adviser H.R. McMaster, because “what that allows you to do is communicate in a discreet manner.” Former U.N. Ambassador John Bolton said it was “perfectly natural.”

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