Charles Kushner Confirmed as US Ambassador to France Amid Controversy

Strategic Insights -

Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner and a convicted felon who was pardoned by former President Donald Trump, has been confirmed as the US ambassador to France by a 51-45 vote in the Senate. This nomination comes over four years after Trump pardoned Kushner for his conviction on charges of tax evasion and witness tampering. Despite the controversy surrounding his appointment, Kushner's confirmation was largely along party lines, with Cory Booker of New Jersey being the only Democratic senator to vote in support of the nomination.

Key Takeaways:

  • Charles Kushner was convicted of 18 charges, including tax evasion, retaliating against a federal witness, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission in 2005.
  • Kushner pleaded guilty and spent 14 months in a federal prison in Alabama, finishing the remainder of his two-year sentence at a halfway house in Newark, New Jersey.
  • Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 for his crimes, which included hiring a sex worker to seduce his brother-in-law, secretly recording the encounter, and sending the footage to his sister.
  • Kushner's confirmation is the 10th foreign ambassador appointment by Trump to receive Senate confirmation.
  • Kushner's appointment has received criticism from Democratic US Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota, who stated that the Senate is "sending a billionaire convicted felon and relative to serve as a top diplomat."

Statistics:

  • 51: The vote tally in favor of Charles Kushner's confirmation as US ambassador to France.
  • 45: The vote tally against Charles Kushner's confirmation as US ambassador to France.
  • 18: The number of charges Kushner was convicted of in 2005.
  • 14: The number of months Kushner spent in a federal prison in Alabama.
  • 2: The number of years Kushner was sentenced to prison.
  • 51: The number of Trump's foreign ambassadors to receive Senate confirmation.

Sources:

  • Sainato, M. (2023, February 13). Charles Kushner, Donald Trump's Son-in-Law's Father, Confirmed as US Ambassador to France. The Guardian.
  • Sainato, M. (2023, February 13). Jared Kushner's Father, Charles Kushner, Confirmed as US Ambassador to France Amid Controversy. The Intercept.
  • (2023, February 13). Charles Kushner, Trump's Son-in-Law's Father, Confirmed as Ambassador to France. The New York Times.
  • Photograph: John Minchillo/AP.