Block Foreign-Funded Warner Bros. Discovery Acquisition and Investigate Kushner Conflicts

I am writing to urge you to block the proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance and to investigate the serious conflicts of interest involving Jared Kushner's role in this deal and his broader activities. This acquisition would be financed with approximately $24 billion from the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. These foreign autocracies would gain influence over major American media properties including CNN, HBO, and Warner Bros. Pictures. Paramount is attempting to avoid federal review by claiming foreign investors would have no voting rights, but this transparent fiction should not fool regulators charged with protecting our national security. Kushner's investment firm, Affinity Partners, is heavily involved in this deal. After leaving Trump's first administration, he raised over $3 billion for his firm, including $2 billion from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund despite Saudi advisers warning Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that Kushner's record didn't justify the investment. As of late 2024, Kushner had produced no meaningful returns for these governments but had paid himself at least $157 million in fees. His FBI background check initially raised concerns about foreign influence, leading to rejection of his top-secret clearance application. The conflicts extend beyond media. Kushner and Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow for five hours in late November despite holding no formal government positions. They met with Putin before some Cabinet officials, then participated in separate talks with Ukrainian officials. This privatized foreign policy is unacceptable. Kushner's firm is also behind a $55 billion leveraged buyout of Electronic Arts requiring CFIUS approval. I urge you to demand that the Justice Department, FTC, and CFIUS conduct thorough reviews of these transactions and reject any deal that compromises American media independence or national security. Congress must also investigate whether Kushner's foreign financial entanglements constitute violations of ethics laws and whether his activities represent improper foreign influence over American policy.