Investigating Jared Kushner's Empire of Fraud & Corruption

Overview

The report investigates Jared Kushner’s proposed luxury developments in Albania, focusing on Sazan Island and the Vlorë/Zvernec coastal area. Andrew Callaghan and local interviewees allege that the projects are entangled with disputed land claims, organized crime, and money laundering.

They say land connected to the proposals was claimed using questionable historical documents and sold by a man alleged to have criminal ties. The report also says prosecutors froze about €120 million linked to the deal while investigating. These are presented as allegations, not court findings.

Construction Boom and Housing Concerns

The video places the controversy in the context of Albania’s rapid construction boom. Interviewees argue that luxury towers, hotels, and resorts—many of which they say appear empty—are vehicles for laundering illicit funds. They also describe ordinary Albanians as facing unaffordable housing, poor services, and limited opportunities.

The report cites claims about the scale of empty properties and suspicious real-estate investment, and links the sector to alleged political protection of criminal networks. Former officials interviewed are more guarded: they acknowledge concerns and investigations but avoid directly accusing Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Protests and Environmental Concerns

Protests against the proposed developments have become part of a broader movement dubbed the “Flamingo Revolution.” Demonstrators say the coastal areas are environmentally sensitive and home to endangered wildlife, including flamingos.

Their demands extend beyond protecting the land. Protesters call for Rama’s resignation, a temporary non-political government, free elections, political reforms, and a new social contract. The report shows demonstrations and arrests, while some activists describe the protests as a peaceful effort to halt what they see as damaging development and government corruption.

Kushner’s Role and the Proposed Projects

Callaghan questions whether Kushner and his firm, Affinity Partners, adequately investigated the land and its ownership. The report also raises concerns about Kushner’s political and financial roles overlapping, and discusses the firm’s investments and the Trump family’s foreign business interests. It alleges that Gulf-based investors are helping finance the Albanian proposals.

Callaghan visits existing coastal developments, including the Green Coast resort, and presents them as largely unoccupied despite their scale and online appearance. He also visits Sazan and the proposed Zvernec site, questioning the feasibility and environmental impact of the plans.

Rama’s Response

In an interview, Rama rejects many of the report’s central claims. He says there is no finalized agreement for Sazan, no project funds have been frozen, and the claim that Albania is controlled by an “Albanian mafia” is false. He disputes statistics about empty apartments, illegal investment, and construction, and says the country’s growth in tourism and GDP is being overlooked.

On the land dispute, Rama says ownership was restored to a family and recorded in the state registry, while any challenge should be resolved through investigation and the courts. He denies taking a yacht trip with Ivanka and Jared Kushner, but says he met them aboard a yacht while it was refueling and later had dinner with them.

The interview becomes contentious, with Rama repeatedly accusing Callaghan of relying on inaccurate claims and Callaghan pressing him about corruption and political responsibility.

Presenters and Contributors

• Andrew Callaghan — Presenter and reporter
• Edi Rama — Albanian prime minister, interviewed
• Unnamed Albanian protesters, activists, residents, former officials, and local commentators — Contributors to interviews and on-the-ground reporting