New York - The Kushner family, relatives by marriage to
President Donald Trump, is in talks to buy the Miami Marlins from art dealer
Jeffrey Loria, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The people asked for anonymity because the talks are
private.
Marlins spokesman P.J. Loyello didn’t immediately return
a phone call or e-mail seeking comment. Wayne Katz, the Proskauer Rose attorney
representing the team, declined to comment. A spokesperson for Kushner Companies.
declined to comment.
Kushner Cos., which was founded by Charles Kushner in
1985, focuses on Manhattan real estate. His son, Jared, is married to Trump’s
daughter Ivanka and is a senior adviser to the President.
Charles Kushner has a criminal record - in 2005 he
was convicted of witness tampering, illegal campaign contributions and tax
evasion - which would probably keep him from being approved as a principal
owner of a Major League Baseball team. Jared’s position in the White House
would likely keep him from buying the team as well.
Charles’ other son, Joshua, runs a private equity firm.
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The sources did not say how the deal would be structured
or which member of the Kushner family if any would be named as the owner of the
team, if an agreement is reached.
“Under Major League Baseball rules, the Commissioner’s
Office must be informed of any conversations about a potential sale,” MLB said
in a statement. “The Commissioner’s Office has not heard directly or indirectly
of any conversation involving Charles Kushner.”
Forbes, citing two sources that it didn’t identify,
earlier today said Loria has a “handshake agreement” to sell the club for $1.6
billion. The magazine didn’t identify the buyer, saying only that it was with a
real estate developer based in New York City.
Loria bought the team in 2002 for about $160 million.