Trump nominates Charles Kushner, who he pardoned in 2020, as US Ambassador to France

Sudiksha Kochi, USA TODAY

Updated November 30, 2024 at 3:46 p.m.·2 min read

WASHINGTON - President-elect Donald Trump selected Charles Kushner, who Trump pardoned during his first term, to serve as U.S. Ambassador to France on Saturday.

Charles Kushner is the father of Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump.

“I am pleased to nominate Charles Kushner, of New Jersey, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to France,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday. “He is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests."

Charles Kushner attends the funeral for Ivana Trump, socialite and first wife of former U.S. President Donald Trump, at St. Vincent Ferrer Church, in New York City, U.S., July 20, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

Charles Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a New York based real estate company. He was convicted of preparing false tax returns, retaliating against a cooperating witness, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission in 2005.

He served more than 16 months of a two-year sentence in federal prison and a halfway program before he was released in 2006, NorthJersey.com reported. Trump pardoned Charles Kushner in 2020, saying at the time that Kushner was devoted to philanthropic organizations and causes.

"This record of reform and charity overshadows Mr. Kushner’s conviction and 2 year sentence for preparing false tax returns, witness retaliation, and making false statements to the FEC," Trump's office said at the time.

Charles Kushner was prosecuted by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a vocal Trump critic who ran in the 2024 Republican primaries and later dropped out. In a 2019 interview, Christie called Charles Kushner's actions “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes" he prosecuted as the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.

The elder Kushner admitted to paying a prostitute to seduce a brother-in-law and have their sexual encounter videotaped. Kushner then sent the tape to his sister in an effort to intimidate her against becoming a witness in the federal investigation.

USA TODAY Network archives were used in this story. This breaking news story will be updated.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump nominates Kushner, who he pardoned, as US Ambassador to France

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