Russia probe turns spotlight on Jared Kushner

Washington, May 26 (IANS) US President Donald Trump's senior adviser -- and son-in-law -- Jared Kushner has now become the focus of the FBI's ongoing investigation into Russian collusion in the US presidential election campaign.

Kushner, who is married to the President's eldest daughter Ivanka, conversed with at least two Russians in the past -- Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and Russian banker Sergey Gorkov, both of whom he met last year.

While investigators believe Kushner may have significant information relevant to the Russia probe, officials said it does not mean he is suspected of committing a crime or that they are weighing charges, NBC News reported on Thursday.

Points of focus that pertain to Kushner include the Trump campaign's 2016 data analytics operation, his relationship with former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and Kushner's own contacts with Russians, US officials briefed on the probe have said.

It remains unclear if the Federal Bureau of Investigation plans to talk to Kushner.

"Kushner previously volunteered to share with Congress what he knows about these meetings," Attorney Jamie Gorelick said in a statement on Thursday.

"He will do the same if he is contacted in connection with any other inquiry."

A source close to Kushner said he was unaware of the FBI's interest in him and hasn't been contacted.

Federal investigators were taking a closer look at the Trump campaign's data analytics operation, which was supervised by Kushner, officials said, and were examining whether Russian operatives used people associated with the campaign, said the report.

Kushner worked with and helped oversee the campaign's data operation contractors based in San Antonio, Texas. He also led the presidential transition's foreign policy efforts.

The investigation is also reportedly continuing to focus on Flynn and Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who has had extensive business dealings for Russian proxies in Ukraine.

Manafort has denied wrongdoing. Flynn is facing subpoenas from the US House and Senate and refused requests for documents by invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Kushner is in a different category than Manafort and Flynn in the investigation, according to NBC News report.

Trump earlier this month fired FBI Director James Comey, later admitting he was thinking of "this Russia thing" when he decided to sack him. Trump had also reportedly urged Comey to drop the investigation into Flynn.