> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.verticalslice.news/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Key figures behind EA buyout accused of exchanging billions for political favours
- URL: https://www.verticalslice.news/key-figures-behind-ea-buyout-accused-of-exchanging-billions-for-political-favours/
- Published: 2026-10-23T13:29:53.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T14:07:41.000Z
- Description: What do the Saudis and Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner have in common? Quite a lot, it would seem.
- Author: Chris Kerr

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of U.S. president Donald Trump, has been accused of accepting access to billions of dollars from Saudi and United Arab Emirates (UAE) leaders in exchange for political favours. 

You might recall Kushner is the founder of Affinity Partners, a member of the Saudi-led investor consortium that [took Battlefield and The Sims publisher Electronic Arts private earlier this year for $55 billion](https://www.ea.com/news/ea-announces-completion-of-acquisition?ref=verticalslice.news). The allegations laid out below highlight how two key figures behind that buyout—[which breezed through the U.S. regulatory process](https://d18rn0p25nwr6d.cloudfront.net/CIK-0000712515/794ae72c-0dde-4a1b-b8e5-27c35e281317.pdf?ref=verticalslice.news)—have seemingly been trading money and influence behind the scenes for almost a decade.

[A book excerpt published by Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/story/jared-kushner-hacked-phone-secret-negotiations?ref=verticalslice.news) claims Kushner breached public trust and perhaps even violated U.S. law by accepting at least $2 billion from Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and UAE ruler Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ).

The cash was allegedly funnelled towards Kushner starting in 2017, with the Saudis and Emiratis subsequently transferring huge sums to multiple bank accounts partially managed by Kushner. "It is unclear how the royals organized their $2 billion in combined payments, but they effectively split the cost," reads the excerpt from 'Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed’s Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East.'

It's alleged that one account was positioned as the funding source for a UAE government program, but was actually used as a foreign policy fund in service of "off-the books diplomatic objectives." Dutch spies who helped surface the allegations claim money was moved into that account through Azerbaijan via a process known as shadow trading. 

Another bank account made accessible to Kushner by UAE leader Mohamed bin Zayed was located in Israel. It's claimed $1 billion was transferred to that account (again, through Azerbaijan), which was allegedly made accessible for Kushner's "personal benefit."

How is all of this legal? Well, if left undeclared, it isn't. 

"By giving him access to roughly $2 billion, regardless of how the money was used, MBZ and MBS were paying for his influence within the US government. Any efforts he made to shape US policy that came from a foreign government that had provided him with money would make him an agent of a foreign power. US law requires citizens who lobby on behalf of a foreign power to declare themselves and the country they are working on behalf of to the Justice Department," explains the excerpt.

"One former prosecutor who worked on the Mueller investigation said that if Kushner promised anything to MBZ and MBS in return for the money they offered him—even if it was just speaking to his father-in-law—he may have violated federal bribery laws, as well as the foreign agent statute. (Mr. Kushner’s lawyer denied that Kushner violated any laws while serving in the White House.)"

[In a post on X](https://x.com/jaredkushner/status/2113373330170368450?s=20&ref=verticalslice.news), Kushner described the allegations surfaced in the excerpt published by Vanity Fair as "outrageous and categorically false."

"The allegations made by this author are completely insane and never happened. We denied every one of these claims on the record, yet the author failed to provide a single shred of evidence to substantiate any of them. No bank statements, wire transfer records, account numbers, transaction dates, or other verifiable details were provided to support these extraordinary accusations," he wrote.  
  
"During the period in question, I was one of the most scrutinized people in the world, subjected to intense media coverage, multiple congressional investigations, and a special counsel investigation. I voluntarily cooperated with these investigations, providing over 30 hours of testimony. None of these allegations ever surfaced, because none of these events ever happened.  
  
"These are outrageous fabrications being presented as investigative journalism. This is not journalism. It is a mixture of fantasy, fiction, and advocacy, written by someone who is either deeply disturbed or acting with sinister intent."