On November 30, former President Donald Trump revealed his plan to nominate Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, for the position of US ambassador to France. Charles Kushner is a prominent real estate developer.
This news comes four years after Trump issued a pardon to Charles Kushner. The latter had previously served a two-year sentence in prison due to his 2005 conviction for tax evasion, making illegal campaign contributions, and witness tampering.
The announcement was made by Trump on his Truth Social platform. He lauded Charles Kushner as an exceptional business leader, philanthropist, and dealmaker. Trump believes that Charles Kushner, who received the 1999 Ernst & Young New Jersey “Entrepreneur of the Year” award, will effectively represent the United States and its interests in France.
Charles Kushner’s previous legal woes were the result of a family dispute that escalated into criminal charges. Court documents reveal that he admitted to filing fraudulent tax returns, which claimed over $1 million in charitable contributions as office expenses. This led to losses between $200,000 and $325,000 for the IRS.
Additionally, Charles Kushner admitted to plotting a scheme to retaliate against his brother-in-law, who was assisting federal investigators. He arranged for a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, recorded their encounter, and sent the evidence to his brother-in-law’s wife, who is Charles Kushner’s sister.
Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, was the prosecutor on the case. He referred to it as one of the most heinous and shocking crimes he had come across. After his conviction, Charles Kushner was disbarred in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
This nomination will need to be confirmed by the Senate. How Charles Kushner’s past will impact the confirmation process is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, Kushner Companies, owned by the Kushner family, is now valued at $2.9 billion and has expanded its operations outside New York City, especially in the Baltimore-Washington area and the Sun Belt region.
The total net worth of the Kushner family has ballooned from $1.8 billion in 2016 to an estimated $7.1 billion, thereby surpassing the value of Trump’s real estate holdings. Jared Kushner, Charles Kushner’s son and Trump’s son-in-law, had previously worked as a senior advisor in the Trump administration. Trump acknowledged Jared’s involvement in initiatives 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 nomination could face more scrutiny due to Trump’s strained relationship with French President Emmanuel Macron, and Trump’s previous support for Macron’s far-right opponent. Trump also announced two other appointments on the same day. He selected former aide Kash Patel to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Chad Chronister, sheriff of Hillsborough County in Florida, to head the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The appointment of Charles Kushner is the first time Trump has given an official role in his administration to a family member since his re-election. Charles Kushner was a significant contributor to Trump’s 2024 campaign.