Russia investigation: Who Is Jared Kushner's New Powerhouse Lawyer Abbe Lowell?

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White House Senior Advisor Jared Kushner has hired top white collar criminal defense lawyer Abbe Lowell to represent him in the Russia investigation. Carlos Barria/Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner has hired one of the top white-collar criminal defense lawyers in America to represent him during the probe into collusion with Russia during the 2016 election.

Kushner's latest addition to his legal team, Abbe Lowell, has represented everyone from House Democrats during Bill Clinton's impeachment over the Monica Lewinsky scandal to corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff and other high-profile Washington figures.

Lowell's previous clients have also been the subjects of international investigations, and he will represent Kushner in dealings with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the probe into links between Trump's campaign staff and Russia.

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Kushner's finances are being investigated by Mueller's team.

Kushner has also come under scrutiny for several meetings he had with Russian officials, including one in which he sought to set up back channel communications with Moscow through Russia's ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak.

But Lowell is just another addition to Kushner's growing legal team, which also includes Jamie Gorelick, a partner at the firm WilmerHale, a spokesman told Politico Monday.

WilmerHale is the same firm that Mueller worked at before he was named special counsel in the Russia investigation on May 17.

Read more: Deutsche Bank's $285 million loan to Jared Kushner just one of many for Trump family

Mueller's investigation is overseeing the investigation into whether Moscow used hacking attacks against U.S. political parties, state election infrastructure, and a misinformation campaign to sway the 2016 election. The investigation also encompases potential obstruction of justice by President Trump.

"When Bob Mueller left WilmerHale to become Special Counsel and three of our colleagues joined him, we asked Mr. Kushner to get independent legal advice on whether to continue with us as his counsel," said a statement from Gorelick Monday.

"He engaged Abbe Lowell to advise him and then decided to add Mr. Lowell to the team representing him in the various inquiries into the Russia matter."

Lowell also works as an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown Law—an offshoot of Georgetown University —based near Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court in Washington D.C.

He is currently representing a senator from New Jersey, Bob Menendez, in a federal bribery case. Menendez is charged with corruption and his trial is set to start this fall.

Lowell has served as special counsellor to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and is considered "one of the most influential attorneys in the U.S. by numerous legal and non-legal publications," according to Georgetown Law

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About the writer


Graham Lanktree covers U.S. politics for Newsweek. He is based in London and frequently appears as a contributor on BBC ... Read more

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