On November 30, former President Donald Trump disclosed his plans to appoint Charles Kushner, father to his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and a prominent real estate developer, to represent the United States as the ambassador to France.
Kushner, who was pardoned by Trump four years ago, had previously served a two-year prison term due to his conviction in 2005 on charges related to tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions, and witness tampering.
The former president announced his decision on his Truth Social platform, where he commended Kushner as a “great business leader, philanthropist, and dealmaker.” He emphasized Kushner’s business acumen, noting his 1999 Ernst & Young New Jersey “Entrepreneur of the Year” award and the potential influence Kushner could have in bolstering the relationship between the U.S. and France.
Kushner’s legal troubles were derived from a family dispute that escalated into criminal charges. As per court records, Kushner confessed to submitting false tax returns that inaccurately reported over $1 million in charitable contributions as office expenses, leading to losses for the IRS between $200,000 and $325,000.
Kushner also admitted to concocting a plan to retaliate against his brother-in-law, who was assisting federal investigators. As part of his scheme, Kushner arranged for a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, secretly recorded their interaction, and sent the evidence to his sister, the brother-in-law’s wife.
The former New Jersey governor, Chris Christie, was responsible for prosecuting the case, and he identified it as one of the most repulsive crimes he had ever come across. Following his conviction, Kushner was disbarred in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. His nomination will necessitate Senate confirmation, but it is uncertain how his past will influence the process.
The Kushner family’s business ventures have seen significant growth in recent years. Kushner Companies, currently valued at $2.9 billion, has redirected its focus to apartment developments and properties outside New York City, particularly in the Baltimore-Washington area and the Sun Belt region.
The overall net worth of the Kushner family has increased from $1.8 billion in 2016 to an estimated $7.1 billion, surpassing the value of Trump’s real estate assets.
Jared Kushner, Charles Kushner’s son, and husband to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, served as a senior advisor during the Trump administration. Trump highlighted Jared’s involvement in projects such as Operation Warp Speed, Criminal Justice Reform, and the Abraham Accords. However, neither Jared nor Ivanka are expected to assume formal roles in a potential second Trump administration.
The appointment could undergo further examination due to Trump’s complicated relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron, including Trump’s previous support for Macron’s far-right adversary.
Additionally, Trump announced two other appointments on Saturday. He chose former aide Kash Patel to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation, despite Patel’s frequent criticism of the agency.
In a separate announcement, Chad Chronister, sheriff of Hillsborough County in Florida, was nominated to be in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The nomination of Charles Kushner marks the first time Trump has assigned a family member to an official role in his administration since his re-election. Charles Kushner was a substantial contributor to Trump’s 2024 campaign.
