'Do you think they'll get the president?': Kushner is reportedly worried as the Russia investigation heats up

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Business Insider      SONAM SHETH         November 22nd 2017 
White House senior adviser and President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is said to be increasingly worried about the size and scope of the Russia investigation.
Kushner reportedly asked a friend whether the probe would grow big enough to "get the president."
Trump is under investigation for obstruction-of-justice related to James Comey's firing as FBI director and for his role in crafting a misleading statement his son, Donald Trump Jr., released when it emerged he met with a Kremlin-connected lawyer and lobbyist at Trump Tower in June 2016.
Kushner is a central figure in both those events.

Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, is worried about the widening scope of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Vanity Fair reported. 

As part of his investigation, Mueller is looking into whether members of the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the election in his favor. 

Mueller's office issued the first indictments in October, charging former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his associate, Rick Gates, with 12 counts related to money laundering, financial crimes, and their work as foreign agents. 

After the indictments against Gates and Manafort were unsealed, Kushner reportedly asked a friend, "Do you think they'll get the president?"

Trump is said to be under investigation for obstruction of justice, stemming from his decision to fire James Comey as FBI director in May. 

The White House initially said Trump fired Comey because of the way he handled the FBI's investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server to conduct government business. Later, however, Trump told NBC's Lester Holt that "this Russia thing" had been a factor in his decision.

He also reportedly told two high-ranking Russian officials that firing "nut job" Comey had taken "great pressure" off of him. The alleged conversation took place in the Oval Office one day after Comey was dismissed. 

In addition to building an obstruction-of-justice case against Trump, Mueller is also reportedly looking into the president's role in drafting an initially misleading statement his son, Donald Trump Jr., issued in response to reports in July that he met with a Kremlin-connected lawyer at Trump Tower in June 2016.

The statement had to be amended several times, after it emerged that Trump Jr. took the meeting when he was promised dirt on then Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton as "part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump."
Kushner's role takes center stage

Kushner was a key player during both events. He attended the Trump Tower meeting in June 2016, along with Manafort and Trump Jr., and he "pushed" Trump to fire Comey, according to The Wall Street Journal.

He was also with Trump in Bedminster during a weekend in early May, when Trump put together a draft letter laying out all the reasons he wanted to fire Comey. Though the letter was never ultimately sent after White House counsel Don McGahn strongly advised against it, Trump fired Comey days later. The letter is now in Mueller's possession. 

Concerns about the Russia investigation and Kushner are not one-sided. Two Republicans who have spoken with Trump recently told Vanity Fair that he has been "frustrated" with Kushner's advice, including when he pushed the president to dismiss Comey. 

Trump has been "pressuring" Kushner and his wife, Ivanka, to leave Washington, DC and return to New York to avoid negative press coverage, one source close to Kushner told Vanity Fair. 


But it's unlikely he will leave the spotlight any time soon, particularly as he becomes an increasingly critical figure in the Russia investigation.