Democrat lawmakers are urging the Department of Justice to scrutinize Jared Kushner’s connections with Saudi Arabia amid allegations of potential conflicts of interest.

Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Jamie Raskin have asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to appoint a special counsel to determine whether Kushner acted as an unregistered foreign agent for Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, Wyden and Raskin sent a letter to Garland, highlighting their concerns regarding Kushner's dealings with Saudi Arabia.

The request follows an Oct. 4 Reuters report that detailed Kushner's conversations with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about U.S.-Saudi relations concerning Israel, raising suspicions of ethical conflicts.

Kushner's Post-Government Ventures Draw Scrutiny

After leaving his prior government position in the Trump administration, Kushner established the private equity fund Affinity Partners in 2021. This venture attracted a $2 billion investment from Saudi Arabia, intensifying concerns about his dual role as both an investor and a key figure in political engagements with Saudi officials.

Wyden and Raskin have expressed anxiety over Kushner's activities, suggesting he might be functioning as a political consultant for the Saudis, while financial benefits could point to conflicts of interest.

In their letter, they emphasized, "This revelation is deeply disturbing, as Mr. Kushner appears to be influencing U.S. foreign policy by acting as a political consultant to the Saudi government while also accepting their money."

Calls for Special Counsel to Investigate

The letter further stated that Kushner's close, familial relationship with former President Donald Trump and the potential for political influence underscores the need for a special counsel.

Concerns have been amplified by Kushner’s role in the Abraham Accords -- U.S.-brokered pacts between Israel and other Arab nations -- although Saudi Arabia did not take part.

Wyden, who has been probing into foreign investments in Kushner's fund since June, pointed out that the Saudi investment might serve as a veiled attempt to direct funds to Kushner and Ivanka Trump.

They wrote, "There is substantial reason to believe that the Saudi government's decision to engage Affinity for investment advice is a fig leaf for funneling money directly to Mr. Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump."

Legal and Ethical Concerns Emerge

Kushner has dismissed these allegations, asserting that the claims are unfounded and insisting, "There is no conflict of interest," regarding his business actions. He characterized the appeal from Wyden and Raskin as "silly political stunts."

Chad Mizelle, the chief legal officer at Affinity Partners, also criticized the lawmakers' request for a special counsel. He described it as "a disgraceful attempt" to further politicize the Department of Justice with meritless accusations.

Calls for Transparency in U.S.-Saudi Relations

The concerns are amplified by the context of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which mandates that individuals engaging in political activities for foreign governments register with the DOJ.

Accusations are pointing at Kushner for possibly not adhering to these legal requirements.

As the DOJ and the Saudi Arabian embassy have yet to issue comments on the situation, there has been a surge of criticism from ethics experts and lawmakers about the substantial Saudi investments in Kushner's fund. They argue it represents a potential conflict of interest, suggesting that it could compromise U.S. foreign policy decisions.

Ongoing Investigations and Quest for Clarity

While the Biden administration continues to pursue normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel -- an initiative first spearheaded by Kushner -- the issues around these diplomatic efforts remain contentious. The lawmakers argue that only an independent inquiry can shed light on Kushner's precise involvement and clarify any potential breaches of FARA regulations.

As developments unfold, the request for a broader investigation into Kushner's actions continues to draw attention nationwide, raising pivotal questions about the intersection of private business interests and public diplomatic efforts.