downgraded last week after chief of staff john kelly made changes to the security clearance system. and we are learning officials from at least four countries have reportedly discussed how they could use kushner's business dealings, inexperience and financial troubles to manipulate him. that is according to the washington post, which also reports that those countries, israel, mexico, china, and uae, acted on those conversations. the report goes on to say that a source said top white house officials were worried that kushner was, quote, naive and being tricked by foreign officials. going to bring in now cnn's chief national correspondent jim sciutto. jim, good evening to you. what are you learning tonight? >> sir don, my colleagues gloria borger, pamela brown and i are told that investigators for mueller have recently been asking witnesses about donald trump's business activities in russia prior to the 2016 presidential campaign as he considered a run for president.