President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, and some Republican lawmakers are discussing potential changes to the criminal justice system, including mandatory minimum sentencing, that could conflict with Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ tough-on-crime agenda, reports the Wall Street Journal. Kushner met this month with House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), continuing a dialogue with lawmakers that began in March with Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah). Kushner also has huddled with leaders of organizations involved in criminal justice, and his discussions have included a range of issues, including curbing mandatory-minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders.
“He’s quietly listening to all sides, including outside groups, to understand what’s possible and to ultimately be able to make a recommendation to the president,” said a White House official familiar with the meetings. “It’s a personal issue to him given his father spent time in prison. He got to know the families and got to see what’s wrong with the federal prison system.” Kushner’s father, Charles Kushner, a real-estate executive, was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion.