Kushner role in bid for Warner Bros raises ethical questions, experts say

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By Jody Godoy

WASHINGTON, Dec 8 (Reuters) – Jared Kushner’s financing role in Paramount’s $108 billion bid for Warner Bros Discovery injects Trump-family interests into one of the biggest media battles in years, raising concerns over whether the president’s influence could tip the scales.

Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a hostile bid for Warner Bros Discovery in a last-ditch effort to outbid Netflix and create a media powerhouse.

Paramount said its offer includes financing from Kushner’s investment firm Affinity Partners, along with financing from the Saudi and Qatari sovereign wealth funds and L’imad Holding Co, owned by Abu Dhabi.

Trump told reporters on Monday that he has not spoken with Kushner about Warner Bros Discovery, adding that neither Netflix nor Paramount “are friends of mine.” A day earlier, Trump said he would be involved in a decision on Netflix’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros studios and streaming assets.

SUITORS TO FACE ANTITRUST SCRUTINY

Both Paramount and Netflix are likely to face intense antitrust scrutiny to ensure consumers, rivals and suppliers are not hurt by any tie-up, giving the government a big say in who ultimately buys Warner Bros Discovery. 

The extent of Trump’s involvement will be another test of how far the president – whose family business interests have grown while he has been in office this year – is prepared to go in breaking conflict-of-interest norms.

“If you were teaching a class at business school on conflicts of interest, this would be Exhibit A,” said Nell Minow, chair of Portland, Maine-based ValueEdge Advisors, adding Trump should recuse himself from any involvement in the deal clearance.

Spokespeople for the White House and for Affinity Partners did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

While U.S. presidents are exempt from the federal conflict of interest law, “normally, what we see is presidents separating themselves from their own businesses and going out of their way not to be involved with their family’s businesses to not have Americans questioning their actions,” said Jordan Libowitz of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.  

The antitrust unit of the Justice Department will review the final deal for Warner Bros Discovery to ensure it does not harm competition in the media market, while keeping consumer prices in check and ensuring that advertisers have a fair marketplace.

QUESTIONS RAISED BEFORE 

Kushner served as a White House adviser during Trump’s first term, and has continued to be involved in Middle East policy during Trump’s second administration, though he does not have an official title.

Questions about whether Kushner has benefited from his father-in-law’s presidency have been raised before. 

Trump this year proposed that the U.S. should clear the war-torn Gaza Strip and develop it as an international beach resort, echoing an idea floated by Kushner, who was a property developer in New York before Trump’s first term.

Affinity Partners enjoyed a cash influx from Middle Eastern investors last year, as Trump was seeking reelection. 

“The blurred line between running the government and the family’s business interests is expanding each day,” said Scott Amey, general counsel with public interest group Project On Government Oversight. 

Trump should “avoid saying and doing anything related to the potential Warner Brothers deal, and steer clear of any allegation that he’s trying to help his son-in-law, who is tied to Paramount,” Amey said.

All of Trump’s multi-billion-dollar real estate, golf, media and other business interests are in a trust managed by his children. But he can take the assets out of the trust once he is out of office, benefiting from the wealth generation that occurs now.

(Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Additional reporting by Michelle Price; Editing by Chris Sanders and Rod Nickel)