President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner is the “very senior member” of the president’s transition team who told Michael Flynnto contact Russian officials about a United Nations resolution before Trump took office, multiple news outlets reported Friday.
Bloomberg News first reported that Kushner was the senior member mentioned in court documents filed by special counsel Robert Mueller in the case against Flynn. NBC News and CNN also reported that Kushner was the transition official mentioned in court documents.
Flynn, who resigned as national security adviser in February, weeks after Trump entered office, pleaded guilty on Friday to lying to FBI agents about his contacts with Russian officials. As part of the plea deal, Flynn has agreed to fully cooperate with Mueller’s investigation.
Two former Trump transition officials told Bloomberg that Kushner ordered Flynn to contact the Russian ambassador and ambassadors from other countries in an attempt to stop a U.N. Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlement activity.