THE GLOBE AND MAIL • MONDAY, JULY 24, 2017 G NEWS • A3 For Trump, new risks lie just ahead As probe into Russian meddling escalates, Congress looks to block some of U.S. President’s powers while Kushner prepares to testify

...... JOANNA SLATER U.S. CORRESPONDENT ...... The probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin is entering a new and perilous stage as investi- gators interview key witnesses under oath and expand their scrutiny of U.S. President Donald Trump and his aides. Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, is scheduled to testify behind closed doors before Congress this week, marking the first time that Mr. Kushner will give sworn testi- mony to lawmakers. Mr. Kushner was a constant presence during Mr. Trump’s political rise, playing key roles in the election cam- paign, the presidential transition and now the White House. Mr. Trump is also facing pres- sure from Congress on another Russia-related matter. Legislators Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, left, eldest son Donald Trump Jr., top right, and former campaign chairman Paul Manafort were all present at a are planning to vote this week on meeting at Trump Tower in June, 2016, with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: RUTH FREMSON/NYT; HILARY SWIFT/NYT; WIN MCNAMEE/GETTY IMAGES a bill with bipartisan support that would enact strict limits on invitation to resign. And he lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya. Mr. Washington Post, Mr. Kushner Mr. Mueller has selected for his Mr. Trump’s ability to ease sanc- warned special counsel Robert Trump’s son had welcomed the also met with then-Russian team a “very hard-hitting set of tions on Russia, a rebuke to the Mueller, who is conducting the meeting after being told it would ambassador Sergey Kislyak in prosecutors” who are “known to President’s stated goal of improv- Justice Department’s Russia yield “ultrasensitive” information December and discussed setting flip witnesses,” said Jonathan ing relations with Moscow. probe, against examining the about Hillary Clinton that was up a secret communications Turley, a law professor at George As the Russia investigation in- Trump family’s business deal- part of a Russian government channel with the Kremlin. Washington University. “Any col- tensifies, Mr. Trump continues to ings. Mr. Trump also alleged Mr. effort to help Mr. Trump. Lawmakers are also likely to lateral criminal act can be used insist that there is no wrongdo- Mueller had “many” conflicts, The upcoming testimony is “a question Mr. Kushner about as a means to coerce co-opera- ing to uncover while musing which he promised to reveal “at minefield” for Mr. Trump’s asso- omissions in his initial applica- tion.” about taking dramatic action in some point.” ciates, said Ryan Goodman, a for- tion for a U.S. government secur- Mr. Manafort is already facing response to the probe. On Satur- Mr. Kushner, who will testify in mer counsel at the U.S. ity clearance. At first, Mr. legal jeopardy over his failure to day, he wrote on Twitter that the closed sessions of the Senate and Department of Defence, who Kushner did not list any contacts register lobbying efforts on president has the “complete House intelligence committees teaches law at New York Univer- with foreign government officials behalf of a pro-Russian political power” to pardon people after a on Monday and Tuesday, was sity. “Any discrepancies what- in response to a question on the party in Ukraine, a disclosure report emerged that he had dis- originally one of three Trump soever between [Mr. Kushner’s] form. He amended the disclosure required under the Foreign cussed with aides his authority to aides scheduled to testify this telling of the story under oath months later, adding at least 100 Agents Registration Act. Such a grant clemency in the context of week. Paul Manafort, the former versus Don Jr.’s telling of the such contacts, according to The failure is technically a crime, but the Russia investigation. chairman of the Trump cam- story, and of course Manafort’s, is New York Times. Deliberately again, one that is rarely prosecut- On Sunday, Mr. Trump once paign, and Donald Trump Jr., the going to be very significant.” omitting information from an ed. again fumed on Twitter about President’s eldest son, were sup- Making false statements in an application for security clearance More problematic for Mr. Mana- what he called “a phony Russian posed to attend a public hearing ongoing government inquiry is a is technically a crime, but it is fort could be that Mr. Mueller is Witch Hunt” and “an excuse for a on Wednesday, but their lawyers federal crime, Prof. Goodman almost never prosecuted. reportedly investigating him for lost election.” He also targeted reached a deal that postpones noted, and has been the basis of The questioning of Mr. Kushner possible money laundering in his fellow Republicans, saying it their testimony. The two men successful prosecutions in past comes amid reports that Mr. connection with a series of real was “very sad” that they “do very will instead provide documents political scandals. Mueller, the special counsel, is estate transactions in New York. little to protect their President.” to the Senate judiciary commit- The meeting is far from the expanding his probe to include Mr. Manafort borrowed tens of In recent days, Mr. Trump has tee and be interviewed in private only item on the investigators’ the business dealings of Mr. millions of dollars to finance lashed out at key figures in the ahead of public testimony. It is agenda. Mr. Kushner is also un- Trump and his associates. That housing purchases in recent Russia inquiry. He complained not clear when those private in- der scrutiny for his contacts with expansion is fraught with risks years, The Wall Street Journal about the actions of his Attorney- terviews will take place. Russians during the presidential for Mr. Trump’s team, experts reported, but he maintains that General, Jeff Sessions – who Mr. Kushner, Mr. Manafort and transition. In December, he met say, since it could uncover wrong- they were all ordinary transac- recused himself from any Russia Mr. Trump Jr. were all present at with the head of a Russian state- doing unrelated to the Russia tions. Federal prosecutors sought inquiry – in such strong terms a controversial meeting at Trump run bank that is the subject of investigation, but which never- Mr. Manafort’s bank records earli- that observers considered it an Tower in June, 2016, with Russian U.S. sanctions. According to The theless could be used as leverage. er this year, the paper reported.

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