Charles Kushner confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to France and Monaco, despite past conviction

Charles Kushner, father of Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared, has been confirmed as the US ambassador to France and Monaco, reports The Guardian. The Senate voted 51-45 to approve his nomination on Monday night. This controversial appointment comes just four years after Trump pardoned Kushner for federal crimes during his first presidency, according to information provided by the respected British newspaper.

Kushner's confirmation saw unusual voting patterns across party lines. Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey was the only Democrat to support the nomination, while Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska voted against it. The Guardian's reporting highlights that Booker's support follows a fundraiser that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump held for him during his successful 2013 Senate campaign.

The new ambassador's criminal history was a major focus during his confirmation process. The Washington Post details Kushner's past legal troubles because their coverage emphasizes his criminal conviction and subsequent pardon. In 2005, Kushner pleaded guilty to 18 charges, including tax evasion, witness tampering, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission. The most shocking aspect of his case involved hiring a sex worker to seduce his brother-in-law, who was cooperating with federal investigators. As the Post thoroughly documents, Kushner secretly recorded this encounter and sent the footage to his sister.

During his recent confirmation hearing, Kushner acknowledged his past wrongdoing. "My misjudgment and mistake was over 20 years ago," he told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Kushner ultimately served 14 months in federal prison in Alabama before completing his sentence at a halfway house in Newark, New Jersey. The Washington Post's reporting notes that during this time, his son Jared visited him almost every Sunday and publicly defended his father.

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who prosecuted Kushner's case, described it as "one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes" he had ever prosecuted. Despite this history, Kushner told senators he believes his past mistakes make him "more qualified" for the ambassadorship, information that appeared in the Washington Post's detailed account of the confirmation hearing.

The New Jersey Globe provides context about the relationship between Kushner and Senator Booker because of their local perspective on this connection. Their long-standing relationship dates back decades, with Kushner providing financial support for Booker's first unsuccessful mayoral run in 2002. When Kushner faced legal troubles in 2004, Booker wrote a character reference letter for him. As reported in the New Jersey Globe's coverage, the two later collaborated during Trump's first administration on the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill.

Explaining his support for Kushner, Booker stated: "Without his efforts, the bill wouldn't have become law." The senator acknowledged having "passionate differences and disagreements with Charlie Kushner" but supported his confirmation because of Kushner's work on reforming the criminal justice system. The New Jersey Globe notes that New Jersey's other senator, Andy Kim, voted against Kushner's nomination.

Sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/20/charles-kushner-france-ambassador-confirmed

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/20/charles-kushner-france-ambassador-confirmation/

https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/senate-confirms-charles-kushner-to-ambassadorship-with-booker-voting-yes/