Associated Press
NEW YORK — A federal judge ruled Friday that the family company once run by Jared Kushner isn’t allowed to keep secret the identity of its business partners in several Maryland properties.
A U.S. district judge rejected the argument that the privacy rights of the Kushner Cos. partners outweigh the public interest in obtaining judicial records in a lawsuit before the court. The decision means the company tied to President Donald Trump’s son-in-law might be forced to provide a rare glimpse into how it finances its real estate ventures.
The ruling backed the argument by news organizations that the media has a “presumptive right” to see such court documents and the Kushner Cos. had not raised a “compelling government interest” needed by law to block access.
U.S. District Court Judge James Bredar ruled that Westminster Management, a Kushner Cos. subsidiary, must file an unsealed document with the identity of its partners by Feb. 9.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by tenants last year alleging Westminster charges excessive and illegal rent for apartments. The lawsuit seeks class-action status for tenants in 17 apartment complexes owned by the company. Westminster has said it has broken no laws and denies the charges.
In addition to its privacy argument, the Kushner subsidiary had said media reports of the Maryland dispute were “politically motivated” and marked by “unfair sensationalism.” Disclosure of its partners’ names would trigger even more coverage and hurt its chances of getting an impartial decision in the case, it had said.
In Friday’s ruling, the judge said these are not “frivolous concerns,” but the public’s right to know is more important.
“Increased public interest in a case does not, by itself, overcome the presumption of access,” Bredar wrote. “In fact, it would logically strengthen it, particularly when the interest is due to the presence of important public figures in the litigation.” He said he saw no reason to buck “the presumption, and tradition, that the Court conducts its business in the sunlight.”
The AP joined ProPublica, The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun and Baltimore TV station WMAR-TV in filing its motion.
“The decision recognized the important principle that the courts are open to the public, especially in cases involving major public figures,” said Nathan Siegel, a lawyer who represented the media in the motion.
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