The Senate has approved Charles Kushner to be U.S. ambassador to France. Perhaps no appointment generates as much interest as his controversial, complicated, and potentially criminal background. The Senate carried his nomination through with a very narrow 51-45 vote. The decision is a huge victory for Kushner, considering that he was recently convicted of multiple felonies.
Kushner’s legal woes started back in 2005. He ultimately pleaded guilty to a number of charges, including aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, retaliation against witnesses, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. Due to these convictions, he was incarcerated for two years. In December of 2020 outgoing President Donald Trump awarded Kushner a presidential pardon, erasing Kushner’s felony record.
The appointment immediately came under fire because of Kushner’s history. Chris Christie, a former U.S. attorney and Trump ally who brought the charges against him, described Kushner’s case as “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.” Nevertheless, Kushner insisted that his previous miscalculations not eclipse his diplomatic talents.
“My misjudgment and mistake was over twenty years ago,” Kushner stated following his confirmation. He reaffirmed his intention to serve the United States honorably during his time in France and conveyed a desire for his service to have a positive impact.
The vote showcased a divided Senate. This angered Democrats, including Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kushner’s home state, who was the only Democrat to vote for his confirmation. In fact, the liberal Senator Patty Murray of Washington went as far as to recommend strongly against the nomination. She claimed that Kushner should not be nominated for such a critical diplomatic position. She pointed out his past criminal behavior, stating, “Charles Kushner was convicted of making false statements to the FEC and pleaded guilty to tax evasion & witness tampering.”
Kushner’s nomination stemmed from President Trump’s selection shortly after the November 2020 election, during which his son, Jared Kushner, served as a senior adviser and played a key role in brokering the Abraham Accords—one of the administration’s notable foreign policy achievements.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, a GOP Senator from Alaska, was one of three Senators to vote against Kushner’s confirmation. The stark juxtaposition of those reactions sheds light on just how contentious Kushner’s tenure truly is. He will face daunting obstacles, most particularly as America’s ambassador in France.
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