President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he is nominating Charles Kushner, father of Ivanka Trump’s husband Jared Kushner, to be the U.S. ambassador to France.
The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in 2020 after being convicted of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering in 2005. He spent 14 months in prison and 10 months in a halfway house for his crimes.
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In what former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes” he ever prosecuted as U.S. attorney, Kushner hired a prostitute to entrap his brother-in-law with the intention of recording the encounter and sending it to the man’s wife. This unsuccessful scheme was supposed to be revenge for cooperating with investigators.
However, over the last two decades the New Jersey native and son of Holocaust survivors has devoted much of his life to philanthropy. The Trump White House cited this as a reason for Kushner’s pardon, stating “this record of reform and charity overshadows Mr. Kushner’s conviction.”
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In his Truth Social post announcing the nomination, Trump lauded Kushner as “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests.”
“He was recognized as New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, appointed to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, & served as a Commissioner, & Chairman, of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, as well as on the Boards of our top institutions, including NYU,” Trump added.
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Trump also mentioned his relationship with his son-in-law, who he said “worked closely” with him in the White House on Operation Warp Speed, criminal justice reform, and the Abraham Accords.
“Together, we will strengthen America’s partnership with France, our oldest Ally, & one of our greatest!” he said.
