New York City authorities open Kushner Cos. investigation tied to alleged tenant harassment

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last updated 22 March 2018

On Wednesday, New York City's Department of Buildings launched investigations at 13 buildings owned by Kushner Cos., looking for possible "illegal activity" involving apparently falsified permits claiming those properties had no rent-controlled tenants when in fact they had hundreds. The more than 80 permit applications were signed when Jared Kushner, President Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, was CEO of the family company, The Associated Press reported Sunday. Kushner did not sign any of the permits himself, but company employees did, including its chief operating officer.

If Kushner Cos. had correctly listed the number of rent-controlled tenants, construction at those properties would have been scrutinized for possible attempts to harass tenants into leaving the building, allowing the property company to raise rents. And at many of the properties, that's what appears to have happened, AP says, citing documents uncovered by the watchdog group Housing Rights Initiative. Kushner Cos. said Wednesday that it operates under "the highest legal and ethical standards" and blamed the investigation on "politically motivated attacks."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.