President-elect Donald Trump Nominates Convicted Felon Charles Kushner as US Ambassador to France
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as the US ambassador to France. The nomination is part of a pattern of Trump selecting individuals who are close to his family or have proven loyalty, often wealthy and with business ties. Charles Kushner is a multimillionaire real estate executive and former attorney who was a senior adviser during Trump’s first term.
Despite his impressive resume, Kushner has a checkered past. In 2004, he pleaded guilty to 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering, and making illegal campaign contributions. He was sentenced to two years in federal prison, although he served most of his time under house arrest. The case involved sordid details, including the hiring of a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, videotaping the encounter, and sending it to his sister-in-law to dissuade her from testifying against him.
Christie, who prosecuted Kushner, described the crime as “loathsome” and “disgusting.” Trump himself issued a pardon to Kushner in 2020, which had resulted in him being disbarred in three states.
It is rare for a convicted felon to be nominated for a key ambassadorship, which is usually reserved for respected business leaders, politicians, or diplomatic experts. However, Kushner’s nomination reflects Trump’s tendency to surround himself with people who are close to him or have proven loyalty, regardless of their background or reputation.