Top House Oversight Democrat seeks answers about Kushner’s Israeli investment following CNN report

House Democrat presses Kushner’s firm for details on Israeli investments

Activelifezero.com – Rep. Robert Garcia is demanding information from Jared Kushner’s investment firm over its financial connections in Israel, raising fresh questions about potential conflicts between Kushner’s business interests and his role as a Middle East peace envoy for President Donald Trump.

Garcia, the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, sent a letter Monday to Affinity Partners, Kushner’s private equity company. The California congressman said committee Democrats are examining what he described as unusual and troubling ways Trump and his family may have benefited from proximity to political power.

“I request detailed information about your business dealings in the Middle East to understand whether your significant financial gains have come at the cost of Americans’ safety and security,” Garcia wrote.

The request highlights the likelihood that Trump family business activity could become a central focus for House Democrats if they regain control of the chamber in this fall’s midterm elections. Democratic investigators would have greater ability to issue subpoenas, seek records and hold hearings involving overseas ventures as well as domestic financial dealings.

Affinity’s stake in Phoenix Financial

The scrutiny centers on Affinity Partners’ investment in Phoenix Financial, a Tel Aviv-based financial services company. Affinity became Phoenix’s largest shareholder after increasing its stake last year, shortly before Trump returned to the White House.

Public Israeli financial records show that Phoenix has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer. The company also holds positions in at least eight additional businesses that supply equipment used by Israel’s military, including drones, warships and demolition machinery.

All nine companies identified in the review saw their share prices rise last year. Several cited the war in Gaza as a factor increasing demand for their products or services.

Affinity does not directly own shares in the nine companies. Still, it can benefit financially if Phoenix’s investments generate gains. Kushner described Phoenix as Affinity’s “best investment” in September 2025.

The investment review focused on Phoenix’s insurance-related holdings and did not include assets held through retirement accounts. That distinction has become significant as Garcia and Kushner’s representatives argue over the relevance of the congressman’s own pension investments.

Kushner attorney points to Garcia pension holdings

An attorney for Kushner rejected Garcia’s criticism and noted that the congressman’s pension plans have exposure to Phoenix Financial or Elbit Systems. Garcia’s latest financial disclosure filings list retirement plans administered through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and the California State Teachers Retirement System.

“Rep. Garcia’s letter is a masterclass in irony: A member of Congress questioning a private citizen for having an interest in the same stock in which the member also holds an interest,” Kushner’s attorney said.

“Jared has no role in deciding what Phoenix buys or sells. But if that doesn’t matter to Rep. Garcia, he should begin by investigating himself.”

Garcia’s office responded that the congressman, like millions of other public employees enrolled in the pension systems, does not control individual investments made by the funds and cannot select out of particular holdings.

“Kushner makes millions with no accountability all while he travels the Middle East on behalf of his father in law,” said Sara Guerrero, Garcia’s spokesperson.

The dispute illustrates two different types of financial exposure. A public pension participant has no direct authority over the pension fund’s decisions, while Affinity’s ownership stake in Phoenix gives Kushner’s firm a financial interest in the company’s performance. Kushner’s attorney has said he has never taken part in or directed Phoenix’s choices about where to invest.

Questions surrounding Kushner’s diplomatic work

The broader concern is whether Kushner’s volunteer diplomatic work in the Middle East could overlap with investments connected to businesses that profit from military demand. No indication has emerged that Kushner’s actions as a Trump administration negotiator directly affected the specific investments under review.

His attorney did not address the issue of Kushner’s role in diplomacy on behalf of the administration. The separation between private business activity and public-facing diplomatic responsibilities is therefore likely to remain a key subject in Garcia’s inquiry.

One day after the investment findings became public, Kushner issued an uncommon response on X. He called the account “deeply misleading” but did not identify factual errors in it.

“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.

Garcia referenced that post in his letter while seeking additional answers from Affinity Partners. The congressman’s request places Kushner’s Middle East investments under a sharper political spotlight at a moment when U.S. policy, regional conflict and the financial consequences of defense spending remain closely intertwined.

Whether the firm provides the requested details could shape the next stage of the dispute. For now, the exchange underscores how questions about private investments can follow officials and presidential relatives into diplomatic roles, particularly when the companies involved have interests linked to an active conflict.