Breaking: Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner sued over financial disclosures

[MelissaB]

Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner sued over financial disclosures

First daughter and presidential adviser Ivanka Trump and her husband and fellow White House adviser Jared Kushner were hit with a lawsuit Sunday alleging illegal omissions on their public financial disclosure forms.

Washington lawyer Jeffrey Lovitky contends that Trump and Kushner failed to identify the assets owned by 30 investment funds the couple had stakes in. The complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington also claims the couple should have declared the value of and income they derived from two investment vehicles, but did not.

The suit notes that in a half dozen instances Kushner's report indicates that more detailed information is not being provided because a "pre-existing confidentiality agreement" precludes disclosure.

"The [Ethics in Government Act] does not allow a reporting individual to refuse to disclose the underlying assets of an investment vehicle, on the basis that such disclosure would violate a pre-existing confidentiality agreement. Nor does the EIGA allow a reporting individual to refuse to disclose the amount of income derived from any underlying asset of an investment vehicle, on the basis that such disclosure would violate a pre-existing confidentiality agreement," the suit contends.

A White House spokesman and attorneys for the couple did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday night.

Link: https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/17/ivanka-trump-jared-kushner-sued-financial-disclosures-302240

[Beakybird]

1. Don't you have to have standing to file a lawsuit?

How is this attorney adversely affected by Ivanka and Jared's failure to disclose?

[Angry Dragon]

3. all Americans have standing.............how is their hiding things harming Americans??

That is the main question

[Beakybird]

5. My question is a legal one, not a moral one.

Does anyone with legal knowledge have an answer to my question about standing?

[helmedon1974]

9. I don't know specifically, or exactly...

But as I understand it a lawyer can file a complaint with the court (wherever they practice) against public officials acting in their individual capacity. I don't know exactly how it works, but I believe anyone can sue anyone else over pretty much anything if they have the will to do it, and assuming there's something to the complaint. In this case there is, allegedly. Most folks don't because they're not lawyers and can't afford it. I'm not sure what you mean by "standing" unless you mean jurisdiction? Reasonable cause? All he has to do is present a case that a judge accepts as credible. He doesn't have to be personally affected. In this case I believe "the people" are the "injured party". This same lawyer has open lawsuits against Trump for similar violations.

[Princess Turandot]

8. He addresses standing in one part of the complaint:

11.The failure of Defendantsto provide the information as herein described deprived Plaintiff of information that Plaintiff is entitled by statute to receive. This informational injury is itself sufficient to satisfy constitutional standing requirements.

Complaint document: https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000160-6756-dcd4-a96b-777f3f740001

I have no idea if that is sufficient; as you said, standing is legally necessary for the suit to proceed.

[Alice11111]

17. Yes. I read 3 versions of the article, none disclosed standing.

Yes, it is required, and I am a lawyer. The articles I read only identified the lawyer by name, and there was not enough info to figure out much. Contrary to what someone said, lawyers do not automatically have standing. In this case, it makes no difference that this guy is a lawyer, as far as I can tell. Maybe he is claiming standing as a private citizen. Need more info.

[Angry Dragon]

2. hiders and liars

[Leghorn21]

4. As they say in France, "Shit's startin to pile up, people" - sweet! Merci, Melissa! nt

[MelissaB]

6. I agree, and this may be the least of their problems.

[MontanaMama]

7. Lock Them Up!

Yesterday...

[joshdawg]

15. [phone]

Bread and water for the rest of their miserable existence!

[Doodley]

10. The question is why did they fail to declare those assets? Are they a conflict of interest? Do they

reveal Russian connections? Are those assets benefiting in their government roles?

[Merlot]

11. Yes, yes, and yes.

And that's why.

[ffr]

12. Who knew government work would be such a bureaucracy for autocrats?

[Alice11111]

18. Yeah, but I hope this Plaintiff lawyer gets some serious legal help. Anyway, I give him points for

taking action.


They aren't used to things they can't buy their way out of. However, they are pretty used to lawsuits.
Kushner is also being sued by his slumlord attorneys for refusing to pay their fees.

[C Moon]

13. What a mess that family is. Liars, cheaters and 100% a-holes.

[Linda Ed]

14. What are the penalties?

A little slap on the hand..? Makes me sick these people are getting away with all these crimes only due to the fact they have millions of dollars!!