Senate Confirms Charles Kushner as Ambassador to France

WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate confirmed Charles Kushner as ambassador to France on Monday. The vote was 51 in favor and 45 against.

Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump‘s son-in-law, received a presidential pardon in 2020 after being convicted in 2005 of witness tampering and tax evasion. Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, was the only member of his party to support Kushner’s nomination. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was the only Republican who opposed.

In 2005, Kushner pleaded guilty to 18 federal counts, including tax evasion and retaliating against a federal witness. Prosecutors stated that he hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law for a recorded encounter, which was then sent to the brother-in-law’s wife, Kushner’s sister.

During his confirmation process, Kushner acknowledged making “serious mistakes” in the past. He expressed that these experiences could help him in the ambassador role, stating that he had paid a price for his previous poor judgment.

Kushner’s confirmation was largely expected given that Trump’s Republican allies hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and they have supported all of Trump’s nominees since his second term began.