Full Breakdown
Jared Kushner Denies Vanity Fair Allegations of Secret Foreign Funds
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Allegations and Report
An excerpt from Matthew Cole’s forthcoming book *Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed’s Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East* was published in Vanity Fair. The excerpt claims Dutch intelligence, after obtaining iPhone screenshots via a Russian-GRU server, saw Kushner log into a UAE-linked bank account that had received “hundreds of millions of dollars” from an Azerbaijani bank. The book alleges:
- roughly $750 million was transferred to an account at First Abu Dhabi Bank held by the Watani Al Emarat Foundation, with Kushner listed as a signatory;
- a separate Israeli account received about $1 billion; and
- Saudi and Emirati officials arranged at least $2 billion in multiple accounts that Kushner could access.
The claims relate to Kushner’s tenure as a senior White House adviser (2017-2021).
Official Statements & Responses
- President Donald Trump called the story “totally false” and “fake news.”
- Jared Kushner posted on X that “the allegations made by this author are completely insane and never happened.”
- Chad Mizelle, Kushner’s attorney, issued a formal notice to Vanity Fair and Condé Nast demanding removal of the excerpt and preservation of related records.
Legal Notice and Potential Litigation
Kushner’s team sent letters dated July 30, August 10, and October 23 denying the allegations and demanding takedown. The October notice warns that continued publication could expose Vanity Fair to “serious legal risk.” No lawsuit has been filed yet, but the correspondence suggests possible escalation.
Data & Statistics
- Alleged UAE-linked account: $750 million (First Abu Dhabi Bank, Watani Al Emarat Foundation).
- Alleged Israeli account: $1 billion.
- Total amount the book says was placed in accounts for Kushner: $2 billion.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Multiple outlets note that the Vanity Fair excerpt has not been independently verified. *TheWrap* and *CBS News* both state the allegations lack independent confirmation, and no court filings or investigative findings have substantiated the accounts.
Timeline
- July 30 – Denial letter to the book’s publisher.
- August 10 – Second denial letter.
- October 23 – Formal notice demanding removal of the excerpt.
- October 27 (scheduled) – Publication date of Cole’s full book.
Verbatim Quotes
What’s Next
The October 23 notice signals that Vanity Fair could face a defamation suit if it does not comply. House Oversight Democrats have indicated they may pursue congressional inquiries, which could compel Kushner to produce documentation related to the alleged accounts. The outcome of any legal or congressional action will determine whether the allegations move beyond the current dispute over verification.