Kushner’s Publisher Pal Lost WH Spot After Harassment Probe

Ken Kurson—the close friend of Jared Kushner who was offered a seat on a prestigious federal arts body by the Trump White House—lost the post after the FBI started digging in to harassment claims against him. The New York Times reports that Kurson was offered a seat this spring on the board of the National Endowment for the Humanities, which gives out grants to cultural institutions. But, as part of a background check, the FBI uncovered allegations that he harassed a New York physician in 2015. In March, The Atlantic published an article by Deborah Copaken, a journalist who accused him of commenting on her breasts as she was looking for a job. Copaken said the FBI interviewed her in early June as part of its background check of Kurson, around the same time agents contacted the hospital and its employees. Kurson said in an interview last week that he withdrew from consideration for the post in early June, citing the amount of paperwork involved in the vetting process. Last week, the White House announced Trump’s nominees to the endowment’s board. Kurson isn’t on the list.