hawkplay Trump taps Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law, as envoy to France
Charles Kushner attends the funeral of Ivana Trump at St. Vincent Ferrer Roman Catholic Church July 20, 2022 in New York City. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday nominated Charles Kushner, the father of his son-in-law Jared Kushner, as the US ambassador to France, in the latest of several controversial picks.
Kushner “is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests,” Trump said on his Truth Social website, adding that Jared “worked closely with me in the White House.”
Article continues after this advertisementThe choice is in keeping with Trump’s pattern, so far, of selecting people, often wealthy, who are close to his family or of proven loyalty. Kushner is a multimillionaire real estate executive and former attorney; his son was a senior adviser during Trump’s first term.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION Trump threatens 100% tariff on the BRIC bloc of nations GLOBALNATION Teodoro: Focus on PH goals, not China’s GLOBALNATION Trump taps Charles Kushner, father of his son-in-law, as envoy to FranceREAD: Trump former aide and son-in-law Jared Kushner writes he had thyroid cancer
Trump did not mention, however, that the elder Kushner once served jail time — a two-year sentence, most of it served in a federal prison.
Article continues after this advertisementKushner, who is now 70, pleaded guilty in 2004 to 18 counts of tax evasion, witness tampering and making illegal campaign contributions.
Article continues after this advertisementThe case, which was prosecuted by then US attorney Chris Christie, included sordid details, to which Kushner admitted: that he had hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, a man cooperating in a campaign finance inquiry, and then videotaped the encounter and sent it to the man’s wife, Kushner’s sister, to dissuade her from testifying against him.
Article continues after this advertisementChristie, who worked on Trump’s first presidential transition team and then opposed him in this year’s Republican primary contests, later said Kushner had committed a “loathsome” and “disgusting crime.”
READ: Who will staff Trump’s government? A look at top contenders
Article continues after this advertisementIn 2020, Trump issued a pardon to Kushner, whose conviction had resulted in him being disbarred in three states.
Nominees for key ambassadorships are often business associates of a president-elect, or major political donors. But it is rare, if not unprecedented, to name a convicted felon.
The first two men to fill the prestigious Paris post were famed inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin and a future president, Thomas Jefferson.
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If confirmed, Kushner would succeed Denise Bauerhawkplay, a former ambassador to Belgium who was a major Democratic fundraiser and donor.
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