Massive Saudi investment raises questions about Jared Kushner's business dealings

Judy: A $2 billion

investment

that President Trump and former President Trump's son-in-law obtained last summer from a fund led by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia has raised

questions

about the ethics of post-White House

business

. Kushner's private equity firm secured the

investment

after Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman overruled a series of objections from sovereign wealth fund advisers. The New York Times reported on some of the group's concerns. The private equity firm was deemed "unsatisfactory in all respects." The kingdom would assume the majority of the investment in the risk. Asset management fees and public relations risks due to Kushner's involvement.

Jeff Benedict explores involvement: the relationship between Kushner and the crown prince that helped shape the deal. Correspondent: President Trump established ties with Saudi royalty and there was usually one person in the room. Son-in-law and senior advisor of the year and Kushner. Like Trump, Kushner came to the White House with a

business

, as a businessman with no policy experience. He became the architect of much of the strategy in the Middle East. We hope this starts a more historic journey for the Middle East and beyond. Correspondent: During the election campaign, candidate Trump took a hard line regarding the kingdom.

Take Saudi Arabia as an example. Why don't they pay? Correspondent: He attacked Hillary Clinton for a country she called a criminal enterprise. These are countries that treat women horribly and take their money. Correspondent: As president, he charted a different course. We really have a great friendship. A great relationship. Correspondent: Two months after taking office, he welcomed Mohammed bin Salman to an Oval Office meeting and a formal lunch. It is believed to be the first time Fisher and Saudi royals have met in person. But they wouldn't be part of it for long. Eight weeks later, President Trump traveled to the capital of Saudi Arabia, the first stop on his first trip abroad.

My meetings with King Salman, the Crown Prince and the Deputy Crown Prince were filled with great warmth, goodwill and tremendous cooperation. Correspondent: Mbs rose from deputy crown prince to crown prince, the country's second highest leader. Now heir apparent, he returned to Washington in 2018, where he dined with Kushner and met with Trump, who boasted of a $12.5 billion arms sale. The relationship is as good as the correspondent: it always has been. That relationship was tested seven months later, when a journalist was kidnapped, murdered and dismembered by a group of Saudi agents suspected of following orders from the crown prince.

Trump was reluctant to blame mbs for the murder. I want to see the facts first. Saudi Arabia has been a great ally and one of the largest investors in our country. Correspondent: At the time, Kushner, 37, crown prince, spoke regularly. The New York Times reported that they were called by his first name. And Muhammad, Jared and Muhammad. Jared said he offered advice. Just to be transparent to the world that's watching this. Correspondent: The Senate condemned him. The US Senate has unanimously declared that Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamaal Khashoggi. Correspondent: Kushner wouldn't go that far.

I don't know what the administration expects in terms of accountability. I think there is a report that they are working on and when they have the facts, it will be up to the president to make a determination about what he wants to do. Correspondent: The administration never punished Saudi leaders for the assassination or for military actions in Yemen. Trump even vetoed two bipartisan measures that would have banned Saudi arms sales and representation. All of this plays into the $2 billion investment Kushner received from MBS last year, says Kathleen Clark, an ethics professor at Washington University St. Louis School of Law.

Kushner can exploit his access to the president, his power within the Trump administration and translate it directly into personal finances, extraordinary personal financial benefits for himself. Trump talked about draining the swamp and we have a swamp monster in this story. Is there anyone here who would like to see me race again? Correspondent: With Donald Trump posing a possible run in 2024, scrutiny of Kushner's

dealings

only intensifies. Correspondent: -- There is some law on the books that should prevent Kushner from participating. But what we know is that President Trump is perfectly happy and he seems to ignore ethical standards, as we have seen repeatedly.

Correspondent: A big business with big ethical

questions

. For the PBS news schedule, I'm Geoff Bennett.