The Note: All in the Family

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here.

January 10, 2017

MORE POLITICS >

All in the Family

Jared Kushner Named White House Senior Adviser

Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, is expected to serve as an unpaid senior adviser to the president, while Kushner's wife, Ivanka Trump, will not immediately take a formal role in the White House, Trump transition officials said. "Jared has been a tremendous asset and trusted advisor throughout the campaign and transition and I am proud to have him in a key leadership role in my administration," President-elect Donald Trump said in a statement. Kushner will resign from his position at Kushner Companies and "divest substantial assets," said Jamie Gorelick, his attorney and partner at the law firm of WilmerHale, note ABC's JOHN SANTUCCI, SHUSHANNAH WALSHE and KATHERINE FAULDERS. http://abcn.ws/2jvTPGf

Dems Call on DOJ to Look Into Jared Kushner's White House Role

Democrats on Capitol Hill were quick to express their concerns Monday with the news that President-elect Donald Trump's son-in-law plans to take a post as a senior adviser in the incoming White House. Leaders on the House Judiciary Committee wrote a letter calling on the Department of Justice and Office of Government Ethics to look into anti-nepotism laws that might limit what Kushner, who is expected not to take a salary, can and cannot do as he is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, ABC's MARYALICE PARKS reports. http://abcn.ws/2iYxikc

Trump's Pick for Attorney General to Make Final Case for Confirmation

Later this morning, Sen. Jeff Sessions will lay out his case before Senate colleagues over why he should be confirmed as the country's next attorney general, ABC's MIKE LEVINE. In particular, he will vow to tell incoming president Donald Trump "no" when necessary. He will defend police and law enforcement officers across the country who have been "unfairly maligned" in recent years, and he will insist he understands the struggle for justice by "African-American brothers and sisters" and from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, according to prepared remarks to be made before the Senate Judiciary Committee. In his confirmation hearing before the committee, Sessions, R-Alabama, is sure to face tough questions over his record on civil rights and his plan for cooling tensions between law enforcement and the communities they serve. http://abcn.ws/2i9b7IP

Analysis - ABC's RICK KLEIN

Keep an eye on Sen. Cory Booker. Not that he's making himself easy to ignore, with his decision to break Senate precedent to testify in opposition to his colleague, Sen. Jeff Sessions, in confirmation hearings for attorney general. This is not really about blocking Sessions from joining the Cabinet. (Sen. Susan Collins' participation in favor of Sessions sends a more important signal, about the minimal chance of GOP defections.) For Booker, this is more about early markers for a Democratic Party looking for new leaders. The Justice Department will be at the forefront of critical issues regarding race, law enforcement, criminal-justice reform, and drug policy – issues where President Obama's legacy is acutely in the balance. Who will be seen standing up for those values in a dark season for Democrats? It might not be too hard to imagine actions taken this week being filtered onto a Democratic debate stage in 2019.