Jared Kushner Hacked Phone Reveals Secret Negotiations, Millions in Transactions

What happened

According to the article, Dutch intelligence (the MIVD) learned about a Russian hacker in late 2017. The Dutch gave him a choice: work for them or face arrest in Britain. He chose to switch sides. He then gave the Dutch access to files his Russian unit had stored, and those files held screenshots of Kushner's iPhone. The Dutch found a security weakness in the phone and watched what Kushner did on his screen.

Key facts

• Kushner's phone was an iPhone X, released in November 2017.
• The Dutch found a way into the phone by early 2018.
• The bank account received hundreds of millions of dollars from a bank in Azerbaijan.
• The Dutch could see the phone's screen, but could not control the phone or turn on its microphone or camera.

Who is involved

The article says the Russian hacker worked for the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency. The author also writes about a UAE ruler, Mohamed bin Zayed, and a book on Kushner's ties to the Middle East. The article is based on a book by Matthew Cole, called Princes and Thieves.

Why it matters

The story shows how spy agencies can watch a person's phone without that person knowing. It also raises questions about money moving between the UAE, Azerbaijan, and people tied to warlords and mercenaries. These claims are serious, so readers should check the facts in the full book and other reports.

What to watch

• Whether officials confirm or deny the hacking and the bank transfers.
• Whether more details about the UAE bank account come out.
• How Kushner and the UAE government respond to the claims.