US officials trying to keep Kushner involved in sensitive issues

In an effort to end a dispute caused over US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner’s security clearance at the White House, Trump’s aides have been busy this week finding a solution to keep Kushner still involved in sensitive political issues without requiring permanent clearance, say sources familiar with the matter.

Citing officials at the White House, CNN reported on Friday that Trump’s aides have been trying to devise a plan that would allow Kushner to continue handling sensitive foreign policy matters, and give him access to top secret information without requiring Trump to personally intervene.

The complications with Kushner's security clearance have surfaced since last week, when White House chief of staff John Kelly, issued a memo, declaring that employees with interim security clearances will no longer be allowed to have access to top secret information.

It is not known what ideas or solutions have been formally proposed; but according to sources, options included giving Kushner a lesser clearance that would allow him to keep the job at the White House.

Kushner has been operating under an interim clearance, not yet fully cleared, just like dozens of Trump’s aides, due to complications in their backgrounds.

Kelly also directed his staff to discontinue top level security clearances for any staffer whose background investigation or adjudication process has been pending since before last June.

Last week, he also set Friday as a deadline for adjudicating the cases of Kushner and others in clearance limbo.

Trump could simply grant any clearance to Kushner, but his advisers wanted him to avoid that option. They said taking that step would be drastic and cause deep rifts within the intelligence community and among the president’s top aides.

The president said on Friday that he will not decide himself whether to allow Kushner to keep his temporary security clearance, and instead will leave the matter to Kelly. He also ordered an overhaul of the security clearance process for current and incoming top administration officials, according to the sources.

Trump praised Kushner as “outstanding” and “extraordinary,” saying that his son-in –law “is working on peace in the Middle East.”

When asked about Kushner’s temporary security clearance, Trump said, "That will be up to General Kelly. General Kelly respects Jared a lot and General Kelly will make that call.

"I won't make that call. I will let the general, who is right here, make that call. Jared is doing some very important things for our country - he gets paid zero."

With Kelly seated close to him, Trump said, “I have no doubt he will make the right decision.”

On Thursday, Kelly said that he would not comment on anyone’s specific security clearance situation. According to the sources there were frustrations on both sides between Kushner and Kelly.

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