Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner and father-in-law to Ivanka Trump, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Monday as the new ambassador to France. The Senate voted 51-45 in favor of the appointment. The confirmation drew sharp attention due to Kushner’s criminal history and past presidential pardon.
Kushner, a real estate developer from New Jersey, pleaded guilty in 2005 to 18 federal charges including tax evasion, witness retaliation, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. He served two years in prison under a plea agreement. The case gained notoriety when it was revealed he hired a prostitute to entrap a cooperating witness—his brother-in-law—and mailed the recorded footage to his own sister.
President Donald Trump pardoned Kushner in 2020 during the final weeks of his first term. Despite the conviction, Kushner told the Senate during his confirmation hearing that his past mistakes have helped him grow, stating they could make him a more empathetic and effective diplomat.
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey was the only Democrat to vote in favor of Kushner’s confirmation. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the lone GOP member to oppose it.
While the nomination faced criticism, it was expected to pass given the Republican-controlled Senate, which has confirmed every Trump appointee since the start of the president’s second term in January. Kushner now takes on the role as U.S. envoy to a key European ally at a time when U.S.-France relations remain diplomatically delicate.
This high-profile appointment underscores the continued influence of Trump-era allies and family connections in diplomatic positions.