'It doesn't get swampier': CNN panel flays Kushner for raking in a half billion in loans after White House meetings

On CNN's New Day, hosts Chris Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota marveled at reports that White House adviser Jared Kushner finagled over $500 million in loans for his family's strugglingreal estate business after meeting with financial institution executives in the White House.

Host Camerota read from the blockbuster New York Times report, "In early 2017 after the inauguration, a private equity billionaire started paying regular visits to the White House." She went on to note that Joshua Harris, a founder of Apollo Global Management private equity firm, supplied Kushner with a $184 million loan for his struggling real estate business.

Following that, Kushner was on the receiving end of another $325 million to help finance a group of office buildings in Brooklyn from Citigroup following another White House meeting.

"It doesn't get swampier than that,paying for access, that is the definition, right?" she added in reference to President Donald Trump's pledge to drain the Washington swamp of financial corruption and self-dealing.

CNN panelist Chris Cillizza took Camerota's comments a step farther.

"And the context, too, Alisyn," he began. "The fact that we know, according to Washington Post reporting, four foreign countries said that Kushner, because of his financials setup, is vulnerable.  Let's remember he paid $1.8 billion for a skyscraper in the best city, New York City, and he continues to try to continue to get out from under it. Again, the idea of bringing in people who you are related to is sketchy in and of itself, and Kushner has made any number of changes to his financial disclosures. This is why he doesn't have security clearance!"

"Do the math," CNN regular John Avlon agreed. "We are talking over half a billion dollars in this report. two loans that total over half a billion dollars. After meeting with someone in the White House. This is just exactly why we don't allow nepotism. This is exactly why four countries thought he was an easy mark. This is why you don't have a security clearance. But there is something shadier here than a half a billion in loans. Watch out, people, this is what it looks like."

Watch the video below via CNN: