A senior Democratic lawmaker is intensifying scrutiny of Jared Kushner’s financial portfolio following recent investigative findings that his private equity firm, Affinity Partners, serves as the primary shareholder in an Israeli company heavily invested in businesses supporting Israel’s military operations. Representative Robert Garcia, the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, issued a formal request on Monday to Affinity Partners, seeking exhaustive documentation of the firm’s Middle Eastern business activities. Garcia stated that Democrats on the committee are actively investigating the ways in which Donald Trump and his family have leveraged their proximity to power for personal financial gain, questioning whether these profits compromise American national security.
The inquiry marks a significant escalation in legislative efforts to examine the foreign business dealings of the Trump family. House Democrats have signaled that should they regain a majority in the upcoming midterm elections, they are prepared to launch a full-scale congressional investigation. This potential move echoes previous actions taken by Republicans in 2023, when committees led by the GOP conducted broad probes into Hunter Biden’s overseas business engagements, alleging that he profited from his father’s presidency.
Kushner’s legal representative dismissed Garcia’s request, labeling it a cynical maneuver and highlighting that the congressman himself possesses indirect financial exposure to the assets in question. The lawyer pointed to Garcia’s pension holdings within the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California State Teachers Retirement System, both of which include stakes in Phoenix Financials—the Israeli firm where Affinity Partners increased its ownership stake—and Elbit Systems, a prominent Israeli defense contractor. The attorney argued it was hypocritical for a member of Congress to target a private citizen for investments that the lawmaker also holds through his pension, asserting that Jared Kushner plays no part in directing the investment decisions of Phoenix Financial. No indication that Kushner’s actions as a diplomat directly affected the investments reviewed.
In response, a spokesperson for Garcia clarified that the congressman does not engage in personal stock trading and has no control over the management or investment choices of his state pension plans, which serve millions of public sector workers. The spokesperson further condemned Kushner, describing him as a wealthy individual attempting to obfuscate his own conduct while simultaneously navigating Middle Eastern diplomacy on behalf of his father-in-law. The office reiterated that Garcia and other Democratic leaders have spent years pursuing accountability regarding concerns over potential influence peddling and the use of foreign capital to secure political access to the White House. “Kushner is a billionaire trying to deflect from his own corruption. Kushner did not point to any inaccuracies in the piece in his post.
The investigative focus concerns potential conflicts of interest stemming from Kushner’s volunteer role as a Middle East peace negotiator. Records indicate that Tel Aviv-based Phoenix Financial has funneled hundreds of millions of dollars into Elbit Systems and at least eight other companies involved in the production of military hardware, including drones and warships. These corporations reportedly saw stock valuations rise throughout the previous year, with several firms noting that the conflict in Gaza contributed to increased demand for their products. By September 2025, Kushner himself had identified Phoenix as Affinity’s most successful investment. Affinity doesn’t directly hold a stake in the nine companies identified – but it does stand to reap rewards when Phoenix makes a profit.
While Kushner’s representatives maintain that he has never directed or participated in the specific investment choices made by Phoenix, the lawmaker’s letter emphasizes that Kushner remains a figure of immense influence who operates outside the standard financial disclosure requirements that govern most public servants. Kushner briefly addressed these reports on social media, dismissing the investigation as misleading and asserting that he remains focused on his diplomatic work to foster peace. Additionally, this oversight effort arrives amid broader concerns documented elsewhere regarding the intersection of Kushner’s business interests and his role as a negotiator, including reports of intermingling assets during diplomatic discussions related to the war in Ukraine. In March, Garcia and Senator Ron Wyden had already formally sought information from the White House regarding Affinity Partners’ fundraising activities in the Middle East, specifically citing the $2 billion investment Kushner secured from the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund in 2021. A day after reporting, Kushner posted a rare response on X, calling story “deeply misleading. “Misleading stories will not distract me from the work President Trump asked me to do: help end wars, bring people together and pursue peace. That work is too important,” Kushner wrote on X.