Jared Kushner’s plans for a luxury resort on Albania’s Sazan Island are facing renewed scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers, as House Democrats expand an existing investigation into his financial and diplomatic activities.
The inquiry is led by Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee. In a letter to Kushner, Raskin requested documents on the approval and review of his Albanian projects, including communications with U.S. and Albanian government officials. The letter also raises whether Kushner’s conduct should be examined under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the federal law barring Americans from bribing foreign officials to obtain or retain business.
The move escalates an investigation Raskin opened in April into potential conflicts of interest arising from Kushner’s simultaneous role as a U.S. peace envoy and head of his private investment firm, Affinity Partners. At the time, Raskin questioned how Kushner could serve as a diplomat while maintaining significant financial ties to foreign investors, including sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar. Affinity has received billions of dollars from foreign backers, with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund among its largest early investors.
“While acting as our country’s lead negotiator to end several international conflicts created or worsened by your father-in-law’s administration, you found time to start an international incident of your own,” Raskin wrote regarding the Albania project.
Kushner unveiled plans for the Sazan resort in 2024. The project, valued at roughly $1.6 billion, envisions hotels, villas and other luxury tourism facilities on the former military island and surrounding coast. It has faced sustained opposition in Albania, particularly over its impact on protected coastal ecosystems, including habitats for flamingos, sea turtles and Mediterranean monk seals. Protests have spread across the country this year, and environmental groups have challenged aspects of the development through legal proceedings.
The project has also become entangled in a separate investigation by SPAK, Albania’s anti-corruption prosecution office. In July, Reuters reported that Albanian prosecutors were investigating whether property deeds for land tied to the resort had been forged. The probe centers on businessman Artur Shehu, accused of transferring the land to an entity connected to the development; prosecutors allege proceeds from cocaine trafficking were funneled into Albanian property using falsified titles to disguise the money’s origin. Shehu has denied the allegations through his lawyer.
Reuters reported it found no evidence that Kushner, Sazan Real Estate Development or other backers of the resort knew about the suspicions surrounding Shehu at the time the land transaction took place. The Wall Street Journal has separately reported that villagers warned Kushner’s team about disputes over the land before the deal was completed.
Kushner’s representatives have rejected allegations of wrongdoing, saying he has complied with all applicable laws and has acted in the interests of the United States. The White House has also defended him, with spokeswoman Anna Kelly describing the congressional scrutiny as part of Democrats’ ongoing political attacks on President Trump, his family and his administration.
Raskin’s inquiry does not establish that Kushner violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or any other law. It asks whether the circumstances surrounding his Albanian business activities warrant investigation under the statute.
Democrats currently hold the minority on the House Judiciary Committee, limiting their ability to compel Kushner’s cooperation. That could change if Democrats retake the House following the November elections.
