Jared Kushner was denied a top secret clearance, in part because security experts and intelligence officials at both the CIA and FBI were concerned about potential foreign influence over him. Trump overruled them and ordered Kushner receive his security clearance anyway.

What has Kushner done – and what foreign influence is there – that is so bad that he would be denied his security clearance? And why is Trump willing to lie for him?

Kushner’s business contacts, financial dealings, and his lack of experience raised concerns that he could be manipulated.

Washington Post: “Officials in at least four countries have privately discussed ways they can manipulate Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and senior adviser, by taking advantage of his complex business arrangements, financial difficulties and lack of foreign policy experience, according to current and former U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reports on the matter.”

New York Times: “The full scope of intelligence officials’ concerns about Mr. Kushner is not known. But the clearance had been held up in part over questions from the F.B.I. and the C.I.A. about his foreign and business contacts, including those related to Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Russia, according to multiple people familiar with the events.”

Trump lied to the American people about giving his son-in-law a security clearance.

Donald Trump: “I was never involved with the security. … I know that there was issues back and forth about security for numerous people, actually. But I don’t want to get involved in that stuff.”

Donald Trump: “But I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t do it.”

Ivanka Trump definitively said that Trump had “zero” influence over Kushner’s security clearance — that was a lie.

Ivanka Trump: “The president had no involvement pertaining to my clearance or my husband’s clearance, zero.”

The White House said they supported and relied upon the FBI background investigations for clearances — that’s clearly not true.

Sarah Sanders: “Look, this is a process that doesn’t operate within the White House. It’s handled by our law enforcement and intelligence community. And we support that process. It’s the same process that has been used for decades in previous administrations, and we’re relying on that process at this point.”