Jared Kushner faced second day of questioning on the Hill in Russia probe

He spent more than three hours with lawmakers behind closed doors.

ByABC News
July 25, 2017, 3:52 PM

— -- Members of the House Intelligence Committee investigating Russia election interference questioned White House senior adviser Jared Kushner today on Capitol Hill for more than three hours.

Kushner, who was under oath, answered questions from Republicans and Democrats about his meetings with Russian officials during the presidential campaign.

"What he said publicly is the same things he said to us," Rep. Tom Rooney, R-Florida, one of the Republicans leading the investigation, said Tuesday. "It was very conversational. Probably one of the easier interviews that we’ve done."

On Monday, following an interview with the Senate Intelligence Committee, Kushner denied collaborating with Russia to influence the presidential election.

"The record and documents I have voluntarily provided will show that all of my actions were proper," Kushner, the president's son-in-law, said in a statement outside the White House Monday after his closed-door interview with the Senate Intelligence Committee.

"I did not collude with Russia, nor do I know of anyone else in the campaign who did so," he said. "I had no improper contacts. I have not relied on Russian funds for my businesses."

He also released an 11-page statement denying collusion Monday morning.

PHOTO: House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, who previously had recused himself from the panel's Russia investigation, for Jared Kushner's interview with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Capitol Hill, July 25, 2017.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, who previously had recused himself from the panel's Russia investigation, arrives ahead of White House Senior Advisor and President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner's interview with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Capitol Hill, July 25, 2017.

Rooney and Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-South Carolina, led questioning for Republicans in Tuesday's session, while Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., did the same for Democrats.

"He expressed, and his counsel, receptivity to come back for further questions, but it was a very productive session," Schiff told reporters after the interview. The California representative has not ruled out inviting Kushner back to Capitol Hill.

Members seemed pleased with Kushner's cooperation after the session.

"We found him to be straightforward, forthcoming," said Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas.

"He was cooperative," said. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn.

Kushner did not respond to questions about his willingness to testify publicly as he left the Capitol Tuesday.

Rooney, a former prosecutor, said he was "very impressed" by Kushner.

"I can understand why the president has so much faith in him, because he’s an extremely impressive guy," he said. "I actually felt good about the fact that he was working in the White House, that somebody like that is helping the president make his decisions."

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