Transcript for Trump intervened for Jared Kushner to receive top-secret security clearance: Report
There is also a developing story tonight involving the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. A report in “The New York Times” breaking late today, saying the president intervened in the security clearance process, ordering his former chief of staff to give his son-in-law a top secret security clearance. ABC’s chief justice correspondent Pierre Thomas tonight on what we know so far. Reporter: Tonight, “The new York Times” reporting that president trump ordered his former chief of staff, John Kelly, to give his son-in-law, Jared Kushner a top secret security clearance. At the time, Kushner’s application had been stalled since the inauguration. According to “The times”, both the CIA and former white house council don mcgahn recommended that he be denied top secret clearance. But tonight, the paper reports that last year, Kelly wrote a memo saying the president had, ordered him to clear Kushner’s path. In an interview with “The times” just last month, the president told a very different story. Did you tell general Kelly or anyone else at the white house to overrule security officials? No, I don’t think I have the authority to do that. I’m not sure I do. But I wouldn’t — I wouldn’t do it. Jared’s a good — I was — I was never involved in his security. Reporter: And Ivanka Trump recently told “The view’s” Abby huntsman there were no strings pulled for her or her husband. There are a lot of people that question whether you were given special treatment by the president, overriding other — Absolutely not. — Officials. Can you speak to that? There were anonymous leaks about there being issues. But the president had no involvement pertaining to my clearance or my husband’s clearance, zero. Reporter: Tonight, just a six-word blunt statement from press secretary Sarah Sanders. “We don’t comment on security clearances.” As you just heard, the president himself said he didn’t pull any strings for his son-in-law. David? Pierre Thomas tonight.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
