TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

FBI warned Trump's son in-law on Murdoch ex-wife: report

  (Agence France-Presse)
Washington, United States
Tue, January 16, 2018

Share This Article

Change Size

FBI warned Trump's son in-law on Murdoch ex-wife: report This file photo taken on Jan. 21, 2016 shows producer Wendi Deng Murdoch in Park City, Utah. (Agence France -Presse/Valerie Macon)

U

S counterintelligence officials warned President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in early 2017 that Chinese-American businesswoman Wendi Deng Murdoch might be using their friendship to benefit Chinese government interests, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Citing unidentified sources familiar with the matter, the Journal said US officials were also concerned that the ex-wife of media magnate Rupert Murdoch -- who owns the newspaper -- was lobbying to push a major Chinese-funded construction project in Washington.

The bid concerns a planned $100 million Chinese garden at the National Arboretum, located just steps from Congress and near the White House.

The Journal said intelligence officials consider it a national security risk because it features a 70-foot (21-meter) tower that could be used for surveillance.

Kushner received the warnings as part of regular briefings he receives due to his role as a senior advisor to Trump, who took office a year ago.

A spokesman said Wendi Deng Murdoch "has no knowledge of any FBI concerns or other intelligence agency concerns relating to her or her associations," and denied she was aware of the garden project.

A Chinese-born citizen, she married in 1999 the Australian businessman, who filed for divorce in 2013. But she still uses her married name.

Asked about the report, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said: "We really hope relevant people can put the pragmatic cooperation between US and China in all areas in perspective."

"This serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples. We do not want relevant parties to make trouble in the pragmatic cooperation between China and the US," Lu said.

{

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.