Andreas Gebert/Reuters
President Donald Trump reportedly pressured his then-Chief of Staff John Kelly and White House counsel Don McGahn to give his daughter Ivanka a security clearance despite their recommendations against it. Citing three sources, CNN reports that concerns about the clearance were first raised by the White House personnel security office. The president reportedly pushed Kelly and McGahn to approve clearances for Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, but they both reportedly refused. Trump is then said to have granted the clearances himself.
While Ivanka recently told ABC News that her father had “no involvement” in her or Kushner’s security clearances, sources told CNN it was “feasible” Ivanka was “unaware” of the “red flags” in her security-clearance process or Trump’s involvement in granting her one. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told CNN that the White House did not comment on security clearances. The White House also reportedly denied a request from the House Oversight Committee for documents pertaining to “the security-clearance process,” which will increase the chances of a subpoena from the committee.