Book Excerpt Alleges Dutch Intelligence Watched Kushner's Phone and a UAE Bank Account Linked to Him

Vanity Fair on 22 October published an excerpt from journalist Matthew Cole's book "Princes and Thieves." It alleges that the Dutch military intelligence service MIVD gained access in 2018 to the iPhone of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law and former senior adviser of US President Donald Trump, and saw him log in to a bank account in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). According to the author, this points to a secret financial arrangement between Kushner and Gulf leaders. The claims come from the author and unnamed sources, and Kushner's representatives reject them.

How the phone was allegedly accessed

The book says that in 2017 the Dutch, with British consent, pressured a hacker working for Russia's military intelligence agency GRU into working against his employer when he travelled to the UK. He gave them access to a GRU server in Rostov, Russia, which held screenshots of Kushner's phone. By early 2018 the Dutch had found a vulnerability that let them see and record everything on Kushner's screen when he used the device.

Accounts and money

The book claims that UAE ruler Mohamed bin Zayed and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman put at least $2 billion into at least two accounts intended for Kushner. In the so-called "Alpha" account at First Abu Dhabi Bank, overseen by the bank's chairman Tahnoon bin Zayed, roughly $750 million was allegedly deposited from 2017. The account belonged to the government-funded Watani Al Emarat Foundation, a UAE charity, and Kushner was only a signatory. The money came via a bank in Azerbaijan. A second account, "Beta," allegedly received about $1 billion sent to Israel through Azerbaijan by spring 2018.

Denials

Kushner's lawyer denies that his client knew of the Watani charity or a UAE bank account and says he complied with all legal requirements. His representatives also say he made no arrangements with foreign officials that the US president had not approved. Four former Trump administration officials cited in the book say they knew of no presidential authorization for such access.